Comments by David G. Littman, NGO Representative of the Association for World Education (AWE) and World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) to the United Nations in Geneva:
This is a follow-up to my last piece posted on June 12. [HERE].
The situation at the UN Human Rights Council is becoming worse and worse and this is blatantly obvious to all. Complaints are numerous but for lack of time and more, I prefer to leave any “˜comments” on this truism to others. There has been one advantage for NGOs and this is the application of rule 113 of the rules of procedure of the UN General Assembly, whereby “a speaker may not, in raising a point of order, speak on the substance of the matter under discussion.” I had been stopped more than any NGO on points of order in the past by OIC states and was therefore surprised that this time I was allowed to complete all three oral statements without being stopped — even quoting from the genocidal Hamas Charter slogan (article 8, similar to that of the Muslim Brotherhood), which I reiterated is the blueprint for Jihadist killers worldwide.
Our three statements delivered are available below with the link to the UN webcast: on the Hamas Charter, Violence against women, and Defamation of Judaism by ISESCO.
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WORLD UNION FOR PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: 11th Session (2–19 June 2009)
STATEMENT by Representative David G. LITTMAN — Tuesday (am), 16 JuneHuman Rights Situation in Palestine and other occupied territories”¦Gaza (item 7)
[Words in brackets not pronounced in the 2 minutes time allotted, but were circulated]
Sir, in a previous statement on Gaza last year, we pointed out that the General Assembly had proclaimed [by Resolution A/61/L22] the year 2009 as the International Year of Reconciliation: [“recognizing that reconciliation processes are particularly necessary and urgent in countries and regions of the world which have suffered or are suffering situations of conflict that have affected and divided societies in their various internal, national and international facets.” It stressed that “dialogue among opponents from positions of respect and tolerance is an essential element of peace and reconciliation.”]
Gaza, under the rule of Hamas, is a classic example of a divided society — a division between Gaza and the West Bank, Gaza and Israel, Gaza and Egypt, and Gaza and the wider world. [The future of Gaza is unclear. It may be united to the West Bank as is now envisaged. It could become an independent state with only economic ties to the West Bank, Israel and Egypt. This idea might become the only solution. Gaza’s future status is a key issue of future negotiations. To ignore it would be fatal.]
Mr. President, since 1989 we have been quoting the 1988 Hamas Charter in the Commission & Council, and elsewhere — to no avail. The genocidal nature of this Charter has never been condemned by any UN body. Until that is done and the Charter has been totally renounced by Hamas, no peace or “reconciliation” with Israel will be possible for Gaza.
For a brief insight, here are a few of the very meaningful articles of the Hamas Charter:
1) “Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.” [from the preface, quoting Hassan al-Banna]
2) “There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavours.” [Article 13]
3) “Israel, Judaism and Jews challenge Islam and the Muslim people. “˜Let the cowards never sleep.– [Article 28]
4) Article 7 is based on a hadith or “˜saying” about killing Jews who hide behind rocks & trees.
5) Articles 22 and 32 restate ghoulish conspiracy theories, most notably the century-old forgery The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.
6) Article 8 is the Hamas slogan [from the 1928 Muslim Brotherhood Charter] which has become the blueprint for Jihadist killers worldwide: “Allah is its target, the Prophet its model, the Koran its Constitution; Jihad is its path, and death for the sake of Allah is the loftiest of its wishes.”
More details are available in an NGO written statement here available: [A/HRC/S-9/NGO/3]
Surely, the time has come for this Council to condemn the Mein Kampf-like, Jihadist Charter of Hamas, as well as all calls to kill in the name of God or religion — any religion.
Thank you, Mr. President
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ASSOCIATION FOR WORLD EDUCATION
UNITED NATION HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: 11th Session (2-19 June 2009):
STATEMENT by Representative David G. LITTMAN. Tuesday (pm), 16 June 2009Follow-up to and implementation of the Vienna Declaration & Programme of Action:
Integrating the human rights of women throughout the United Nations system (item 8)Sir, a year ago today we addressed widespread violence against women, and twice again since then. We hope that this two minute statement will not again result in a ninety minute “˜affair”.
We note that points of order will now follow General Assembly rule 113 of rules of procedure.
These 5 issues that require concerted action at the international, national & local levels remain:
1. Female Genital Mutilation;
2. So-called “honour killings”;
3. Death by stoning;
4. Disfiguration of women by acid;
5. Marriage of female children.FGM is a barbaric crime which is creeping into Europe. Even in Switzerland the number of mutilated young girls from immigrant families is now over 7,000, with 1,200 in Geneva alone. UNICEF figures indicate over 3 million young girls are mutilated each year in 32 countries, 29 of which are Member States of the OIC. For example, Egypt remains at about 96% and Northern Sudan at 90%. Our appendix provides details on this & our written statement some background.
“Honour killings” is on the increase worldwide and should be criminalized and not accepted as a social, tribal or religious anomaly. This “custom” is also increasing in Europe, even among second generation immigrants. All States should strive to eliminate it from their societies.
The stoning of women for alleged sexual misconduct occurs regularly in some States that we shall not name. How can this be justified as “cultural relativism” or for any religious reason?
The barbaric crime of throwing acid in the face of young women is another case where tribal “˜honour” is cited. This “˜custom” is practised when men believe their “˜pride” or “˜honour” has been wounded by rejection of a marriage arrangement, courtship, or inadequate dowry.
The marriage of girl children as young as nine, sometimes even at eight is an abomination. Last year, speaking here in Geneva, the Iranian Noble Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi strongly denounced the fact that in Iran a girl is considered an adult and liable to punishment, even execution, at nine and a boy at fifteen. She courageously rejected cultural relativism in this and other contexts in Iran and elsewhere. [Le Temps, 10/6/08]. So should we all.
Sir, we call on this Council to address these grave issues without any reservations whatsoever.
Thank you, Mr. President.
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ASSOCIATION FOR WORLD EDUCATION
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL –11th session (2-19 June 2009)
STATEMENT: Representative David G. LITTMAN — Wednesday (am) 17 June 2009Racism, Racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance”¦ (item 9)
[Passages in square brackets and reduced type were not pronounced in the 2 minutes allotted]
Mr. President, this is a joint statement with the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ)
We feel obliged to speak again of a symbolic case of “˜defamation of religion”, as well as religious and racial hatred, being propagated six months ago, outside this very “˜Alliance of Civilizations” Room, with 2 ISESCO books, details of which are to be found in our written statement , titled: Defamation of Judaism and Jews by ISESCO (OIC) 60th UDHR Anniversary at the UN: /HRC/10/NGO/29:]
[The books were available during the whole day”s event, organised by the Organization of the Islamic Conference on 19 December 2008, outside the newly inaugurated “Alliance of Civilizations” Room — “On the Occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”. Inside Room XXI the OIC Secretary General and senior UN dignitaries spoke at The OIC Inter-institutional Forum on Universal Shared Values: Challenges & New Paradigms, which was described as: “Under the High Patronage of H.E. Mr. Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal, Chairman 11th OIC Summit And the Effective Participation of Pr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the OIC, Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze, Director General of the UN Office in Geneva, Mr. Martin I. Uhomoibhi, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN & President of the Human Rights Council & Mrs. Navanethem Pillay, High Commissioner for HR.”]
One quote from the 2007 book, Protection of Islamic and Christian Holy Sites in Palestine by ISESCO (the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) will suffice to give the true flavour of this rampant, well-documented culture of Judeophobia and Antisemitism.
The “President of the Jenine Information Centre, Jenine, State of Palestine” [Adnane Ibrahim Hassan Al Subah, “Role of Palestinian Civil Society in the Protection of Holy Sites” (pp. 252-75)] affirms:
“Enemies of the Almighty:
Jews are the enemies of Allah, the enemies of faith and of the worship of Allah. (“¦) People familiar with the Torah, which we believe to have been distorted, know the extent of the evils they attribute to their prophets, corruption, treachery, fornication or approval of it.”Mr. President, we urgently call for a universal condemnation of these blatant defamations of Judaism and the constant demonization of Jews in ISESCO publications and in certain media. ISESCO is the cultural wing of the OIC and its 57 UN Member States. Intended as a scholarly body, it should not publish such literature and display it at the United Nations during an OIC commemoration of the UDHR. A higher standard, avoiding incitement to religious hatred, is to be expected from an international body with close ties to UNESCO since 1981.
This grave matter merits a pertinent response from UNESCO. It is time for the international community to act firmly against this widespread culture of hate. We look to this Council, and to the OIC — co-sponsors since 1999 of the “˜defamation of religions” resolution — to act now in good faith.
Sir, we were not allowed to complete this statement on 6 March. We have done so today.
Thank you, Mr. President.