Saudi Arabia seeks impunity at the UN

[Jefferson23]

Karim Lahidji is president of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Federation_for_Human_Rights

Riyadh’s victory at the UN Human Rights Council could have far-reaching consequences
November 13, 2015 2:00AM ET
by Karim Lahidji

On Nov. 10, Saudi Arabia introduced a draft resolution that called on the United Nations General Assembly’s committee on human rights to condemn Iran and Russia’s involvement in the Syrian conflict. The U.S.-backed resolution, which is co-sponsored by Qatar, France and other Arab and Western countries, signals Riyadh’s growing influence at the world body.

In mid-September, the appointment of Saudi Arabia's ambassador as chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council's consultative group, an honorary position with limited powers, made global headlines. But Saudi Arabia's real diplomatic triumph came a few weeks later. On Sept. 30, Riyadh blocked a draft resolution put forward by the Netherlands that called for an international inquiry into the Saudi-led airstrikes in Yemen. The victory placed an otherwise discreet Saudi Foreign Service at the center of multilateral politics.

Saudi Arabia killed the Dutch resolution by rallying the support of the Arab group. It then introduced an alternative text (through the Arab bloc with Saudi diplomats as pen holders) that was adopted on Oct. 2. The Arab group resolution simply called on the U.N. to assist a national inquiry by Yemen’s Saudi-backed government. It dropped language on “all parties” to the conflict, which resulted in the resolution ignoring violations committed by Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies.

The United States, France and the United Kingdom helped the Saudis bury the international probe by providing late and weak support for the Dutch proposal and by insisting on the need to “strike a deal” with Riyadh. Saudi Arabia now occupies an elevated geopolitical posture that could have far-reaching, devastating consequences for the Middle East. Growing Saudi influence underscores the Council’s failure to fulfill its mandate of fighting human rights violations, combating impunity and preventing repetition.

The Saudis can now continue to challenge international human rights standards, including on freedom of expression, torture and execution of minors. For example, the Kingdom could now re-open the “defamation of religion” agenda, which aims to place restrictions on free expression based on religious grounds. (Riyadh and its regional allies had in the past attempted to get the concept of defamation of religion recognized in international law.)

http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/11/saudi-arabia-seeks-impunity-at-the-un.html

[leveymg]

1. Next agenda: pass a "defamation of carbon fuels" resolution. n/t

[Jefferson23]

2. lol

[Jesus Malverde]

3. Lulz

The Saudis might be the biggest human rights violators in the world.

They are among the most depraved monarchy's known to mankind. You have to go back to the Middle Ages to find their peers.