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Comments by David G. Littman, NGO Representative for the Association for World Education (AWE) and the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ), United Nations, Geneva. For David Littman's comments on the current human rights activities at the UN in Geneva, see: Stealth Jihad with Dialogue vs. Freedom of Expression at the UN (Act 2) (November 25).
The 8th Special Session of the Human Rights Council on the tragic “Situation of human rights in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo” began on Friday. It was called at the request of 16 Western countries; the number of co-sponsors soon reached 39 States, but not one from the African Union, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, or the NAM (Non-Aligned Movement). The DRC even alleged that the host country refused visas for two ministers, which the Swiss ambassador categorically refuted in diplomatic terms. The Egyptian ambassador, acting as coordinator of the African group, tried to halt the discussion at 5:30pm; this was unacceptable for France (on behalf of the European Union) and also for the Council president. The histrionic statement delivered by Sudan’s ambassador woke up some representative to the sheer absurdity of this UN masquerade, and the conclusion of the statement by the ambassador of Pakistan, speaking for the OIC, completed this grim ‘picture’:In conclusion, the OIC reiterates its call that the Council’s Special sessions should not become tools for castigating weak and vulnerable countries, while condoning impunity in case of influential members of the international community. An ongoing siege in Gaza, which has been widely condemned by the International community and continues to pose severe hardships for hundreds of thousands, must also merit the attention of the Council as any situation in the world, on the basis of consensus.Considering that four of the eight Special HRC sessions (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th), since July 2006, targeted Israel in “the occupied Palestinian territories” (with one on Gaza and another on Lebanon), and only one on Darfur, on Myanmar and on ‘food’, such a gross distortion portrays the HRC’s natural ‘climate’ – a UN body often referred to as “this august body” and “the conscience of the world”. A glance at the proposed draft resolution on the “human rights situation” in the DRC – as “submitted by Egypt on behalf of the African Group” – reveals a blatant refusal to face the manifold atrocities being carried out non-stop in that region and beyond. Its preamble states blandly: “Reiterating the principles and objectives of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenants on Human Rights” – but there is no mention throughout the text of either the grave ethnic strife or what the EU strongly deplores in its resolution: the “increasingly widespread cases of sexual violence, summary executions, recruitment and use of child soldiers by the armed groups, cases of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of punishment, massive displacement of populations and plundering of villages…”
This ‘Comedy of Errors’ Council took place while barbaric horrors in Mumbai continued – with an expression of condolence from the president to the Indian ambassador, but nothing else. Before the session began, we handed to the president and the High Commissioner for Human Rights our ‘Urgent Appeal’ concerning those bloody massacres, broadcast on all TV networks – aimed thereby at spreading fear worldwide. Our text is reprinted below. It was also handed to about 30 Western ambassadors and delegates. We shall refer to it tomorrow in concluding AWE’s statement on the ongoing tragedy in the DRC – and will prepare a factual follow-up with both our oral and written statements.* * * * *
ASSOCIATION FOR WORLD EDUCATION
Case Postale 205 – 1196 Gland – SuisseURGENT APPEAL
Human Rights Council President Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay28 November 2008
Your Excellencies,
MUMBAI: Condemn killings in name of God or Religion – any Religion
The horrors committed at Mumbai by the Deccan Mujahideen (i.e. “Jihadist Soldiers”) call for an unequivocal condemnation by the UN Secretary-General, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the President of the Human Rights Council. A condemnation of “terrorism” should include a condemnation of all those who kill or incite to kill in the name of God or religion – of any religion.
In 1999, representatives of Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other faiths and of civil society, meeting in Geneva, promulgated the Geneva Spiritual Appeal which called on global decision-makers “not to refer to any religious or spiritual imperative to justify any form of violence.” This appeal was reaffirmed in March 2003 in St. Peter's Cathedral, Geneva by Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Bahai and other religious leaders declaring: “Together we denounce all references to God to justify and foster hatred.”
This same subject was addressed positively at the recent seminar organized by the “Catholic-Muslim Forum”, established between the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and representatives of the 138 Muslim leaders who signed the Open Letter to Christian leaders of 13 October 2007.
As we have warned year after year at the Commission, at the Sub-Commission, and also at the Council, “more indiscriminate Jihadist attacks are anticipated daily” – and this is now evident to all. A policy of silence on this use of an “Ideology of Jihad” by Muslim spiritual and secular leaders, by the OIC and Arab League, and by the international community, implicitly condones a blasphemous evil that should be condemned unequivocally by all Muslim thinkers, theologians and clerics as a “Defamation of Islam.” If this policy of silence is accepted by the international community – a form of complicity – the future for humanity will be bleak. The bells are tolling loud and brutally clear.
It is not our purpose to attack Islam, nor, by turning the spotlight onto abuse carried out “in the name of Islam”, to condone the abuse of human rights by the followers of other religions, by military forces, by governments, or by non-state actors.
In face of this cult of hate, death and destruction against “the other” – we are appealing to you as President of the Human Rights Council, and as High Commissioner for Human Rights to condemn all those who kill – and call to kill – in the name of God or religion – of any religion.
Respectfully,
René V.L. Wadlow
Main RepresentativeDavid G. Littman
RepresentativeAssociation for World Education to the United Nations Office in Geneva
Posted by Robert at November 30, 2008 6:00 PM
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That'll put a stop to this horse-play: a good, old-fashioned unequivocal condemnation.
Why the 'ell didn't we think of this sooner?
Posted by: undaunted![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jihadwatch.org/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 30, 2008 6:21 PM
For the OIC and the stooges at the UN 'human rights' means the Cairo declaration of human rights'- which are not human rights at all, but the rights Muslims have to impose sharia.
That awful Louise Arbour probably never read it, and those who put up with this BS obviously haven't read it either.
It would be worse if they did. In this case I am gentle and give them the benefit of the doubt....
Posted by: sheik yer'mami at November 30, 2008 6:35 PM
David Littman is my hero!
I doubt sure he'll be able to get this passed, though, given the emboldened position of the OIC after their getting the egregious "Defamation of Religions" (read Islam) bill adopted by that "august body".
Posted by: gravenimage at November 30, 2008 6:35 PM
"A condemnation of “terrorism” should include a condemnation of all those who kill or incite to kill in the name of God or religion – of any religion. "
Look for the Muslims to say: "Quit picking on us".
at November 30, 2008 6:42 PM
It should be a condemnation of 'violence,' not terrorism. You know how weasely the OIC is and how they have twisted the word 'terrorism' to exclude, well, 'terrorism.'
Posted by: jdamn at November 30, 2008 7:14 PM
"A condemnation of “terrorism” should include a condemnation of all those who kill or incite to kill in the name of God or religion – of any religion. "
HA! That'll have those be-damned Methodists quaking in their boots.
This will be the last time that Aunt Gladys dares to bring her hideously deadly jello salad (with nuts and celery -- yecch!) to one of our covered-dish suppers.
Posted by: deMontjoie at November 30, 2008 7:28 PM
Perhaps Jewish and Hindu jihadwatchers in New York City might choose to sit shiva together on behalf of the latest Tears of Jihad - the men, women and children so cruelly murdered by Jihadist assassins in Mumbai - and to do so outside the UN HQ, as an act of mourning and of public protest.
Have copies of Quran and Ibn Ishaq, and Mr Spencer's and Mr Bostom's and Mme Bat Yeor's and Mr K S Lal's and Mr V S Naipaul's books handy, suitably bookmarked, so that the most damning passages from Muslim texts and their interpreters, and the most horrific historical descriptions of what jihadists have done to Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs in the subcontinent, and to Jews everywhere, may be shown to passersby. Have some leaflets prepared to hand out.
Furthermore: all resisters of Jihad and Sharia here at jihadwatch should fire off some letters, quicksmart. If you are Israeli, write to the Indian ambassador; if you are Indian, write to the Israeli ambassador. Properly understood, this incident should serve to bring India and Israel together as allies in resistance to Jihad.
If you are neither Indian nor Israeli, write to both the Israeli and the Indian ambassadors in your country. Express your deepest condolences. And describe the jihad ghazi/ razzia briefly but clearly, in the plain language with which we at this site have been discussing it for the past week.
I have just written two letters of condolence, one for the Israeli Ambassador in Australia, and one for the Indian High Commissioner. They will be posted this afternoon.
Both letters bluntly describe the assault in Mumbai as a jihad raid, and direct the attention of the ambassador, and of the commissioner, to the source texts of Islam, in obedience to which the jihadists carried out their cruel and violent murders in Mumbai.
at November 30, 2008 9:46 PM
Well done, dda. I'm doing the same.
Posted by: jewcat at November 30, 2008 10:46 PM
'HRC ... a UN body often referred to as ... “the conscience of the world”'
From the story.
WTF! The disconnect with reality reflected in such a statement truly boggles the mind. The HRC appears to have entered into a state of extreme delusion, where pooh bahs from various third world countries get together and vie for the title of "Grandest, Most Wonderful and Magnificent Pooh Bah." They then adjourn to their limos (ignoring parting ticket #13,689 they just collected, but which diplomatic immunity excuses them from having to pay) and return to their lavish Georgetown digs for lamb shishkabob and tea.
Posted by: Eastview at December 1, 2008 12:41 AM
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