Saudi Arabia, which bases its legal system strictly upon Sharia, frequently encounters criticism for its discrimination against women: they are not allowed to appear in public without their heads covered, they must have a male “guardian’s” permission to venture outside the home, and most notoriously, are not allowed to drive. (That last provision is not based explicitly upon a Sharia provision, but upon a general concern to prevent “corruption,” as one Saudi Islamic scholar detailed: “taking off hijab, loss of modesty, leaving the house too much, streets becoming overcrowded, going against and defying her husband, and depriving some of the youth from driving.”) The Washington Post reported in 2015 that “because of these factors, international bodies consistently rank Saudi Arabia low on matters of gender equality. In 2014, the World Economics Forum ranked it 130 out of 142 countries in its annual report on gender equality.”
“No Joke: U.N. Elects Saudi Arabia to Women’s Rights Commission, For 2018-2022 Term,” UN Watch, April 22, 2017:
The Geneva-based human rights group UN Watch condemned the U.N.’s election of Saudi Arabia, “the world’s most misogynistic regime,” to a 2018-2022 term on its Commission on the Status of Women, the U.N. agency “exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.”
“Electing Saudi Arabia to protect women’s rights is like making an arsonist into the town fire chief,” said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch. “It’s absurd.”
“Every Saudi woman,” said Neuer, “must have a male guardian who makes all critical decisions on her behalf, controlling a woman’s life from her birth until death. Saudi Arabia also bans women from driving cars.”
“I wish I could find the words to express how I feel right know. I’m ‘saudi’ and this feels like betrayal,” tweeted a self-described Saudi woman pursuing a doctorate in international human rights law in Australia.
Yet the fundamentalist monarchy is now one of 45 countries that, according to the U.N., will play an instrumental role in “promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, and shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women.”
Saudi Arabia was elected by a secret ballot last week of the U.N.’s 54-nation Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Usually ECOSOC rubber-stamps nominations arranged behind closed doors by regional groups, however this time the U.S. forced an election, to China’s chagrin….
clap says
In other news, the fox was asked to guard the hen house.
Godwin says
This Arab guy has gone into meltdown after reading the book. ” people vs Mo”.: _ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5foN-2ucZc
Dr Gwendolyn E Mugliston says
Not only are the feminists silent but the whole USA government.
I think there are far too many Muslims in our government and beginning with Jarret should have all been removed when Trump was elected. The influence of Muslims has everything to do with how they have controlled the conversation to make it seem that moderate comments were and are expressions of Islamophobia. Nuts. Only insane people think Islam is a religion of peace and women have parity with men. But….
Conversely, there is great silence from the men in this country, too. What’s with that? Do they believe women should be silenced?
If I was a breeding woman which seems to be the position of women within Islam, I would birth control myself into sterility.
Blurb1000 says
Georg Orwell would be jealous.
somehistory says
Lost in Space had an episode where creatures looking much like the ones in the photo… all dressed in black and only the hands exposed…who wanted to take over the entire Universe.
These dark and shadowy creatures used threats and deception to gain access to the robot in order to find out everything they needed to know to overpower the Robinsons…and the universe.
Fiction imitating reality.
Michael says
In some ways, it seems to be following the proven principle that if you tell people it’s so enough times, then people come to believe it, in the face of facts that prove otherwise.
The UN — complicit in all of the mass immigration that is attacking Europe — takes THE most blatant brutalizer of women, and holds them up as a model of how to treat women — thus sanctioning Sharia law and the brutalization of women. This is a step in ‘normalizing’ Sharia law.
It would be similar to taking a child rapist, and putting him on a panel to promote the protection of children from child rapists. And people gasp and are shocked … and some look on dumbly, assuming that ‘the authorities’ are doing the right thing. This blind trusting of authority has been inculcated into us for decades. Kids today are taught to question nothing; just do what they’re told.
Karen says
With the bar now set as low as it can possibly go, I predict the commission will produce great results.
RAB says
Robert, thank you for my laugh of the day. Could I call this a “classic” example of taqiyya?
nomoreexpert says
Good Job , UN. It’s time to give jihadi Nobel peace price.
Brenda Buruma says
Ha, ha. Good line. Let’s give ISIS the Nobel peace prize. Makes as much sense as electing SA to head Women’s Rights Commission. While they’re at it, they may as well make more resolutions against Israel. After all, Israel is a morally, democratic nation.
gravenimage says
UN elects Saudi Arabia to UN agency “dedicated to promotion of gender equality and empowerment of women”
……………………
And this is why the UN is not just a joke, but a sick joke.
They have also appointed huge numbers of human rights violators–including Shari’ah hell holes–to successive Human Rights Counsels. It renders the whole concept meaningless.
somehistory says
Even worse than meaningless…it gives a stamp of approval to horrific abuses. Every country can now live *down* to the standard set.
gravenimage says
Very true, somehistory–it *is* worse than meaningless.
rabrooks says
Will it give the feminazi’s something to complain about?
Lynn says
The US should resign from the UN. It is in opposition to what the US stands for. We could put our money to better use.
utis says
It hurts me to say it, but you’re probably right. I thought I would die a one-worlder, but I knew it would take centuries for the entire world to accept one another. With backsliding like this, it will take millennia, after we cure ourselves of islamomania.
The world survived the end of the League of Nations — just about. Maybe (I hope) something saner will replace the U.N.
gravenimage says
When I was a child I was so proud that the UN had been founded in my city of San Francisco. I thought it would foster world peace and respect for everyone in the world.
Over time I realized that a body dominated by unfree nations is going to be anything but beneficent–and so it has proven.
I hope the US and other civilized nations do leave the UN. It is not just a failure–it is worse than that. And the US provides a huge part of the UN budget–which it mostly uses to castigate the free West–especially Israel.
Gen Jones says
As a child I felt the same way, Graven. As New Yorkers, a school trip to the UN was a must and I was always impressed by the ideals and noble feeling of the place. I wanted to speak four languages! Now, working nearby in a retail capacity I meet a lot of international employees of the UN and clearly some of them got their jobs through favoritism rather than smarts. They must get paid a lot to live in one of the more expensive cities in the world just to push paper around.
Terry says
Graven & Gen Jones,
I also (o gen Jones) grew up in NYC- and felt the same, as a child.
The Rockefeller family- which donated the land, must be spinning in their graves ( regardless of what thinks or thought of them, they did give tens of millions of dollars to charities for heath and medical research; and for a more peaceful world).
But, the Useless Nations is beyond useless.
as pointed out above- human rights violators are or were on the human rights commission (Libya being one example; others).
The John Birch Society had it right half a century ago–in the 1960’s– GET THE US OUT OF THE UN AND THE UN OUT OF THE US.
gravenimage says
Thanks, Gen and Terry–I know how you feel.
If the UN were *really* asserting those high ideals and not spending most of their time castigating democratic Israel, I would feel the same way I did as a kid–even if the UN were not all that effective.
But they are worse than ineffective–they are normalizing all sorts of savagery–decades ago this was primarily Communist–now, primarily Muslim.
Bill W. says
I live in New York City they should kick the UN out the land it is on is the most expensive land in the world .Developers would love to buy it at top dollar(or what ever currency they wanted to use) with that money they could buy 50 to 100 times the amount of land in some Moslem mudhole set up their tower of useless babble and carry on without the money ,imput ,ect of the Western (North America, Europe, South America, the far east South East Asia, India and Russia)the Sunni and Shite could be themselves to death with bat ball bats studded with nails the world would be a better place.
Terry says
A commentator (i did not hear this, a friend told me this) on a Fox Network program said it should be sold to president Trump’s sons, and let them turn it into condos.
I think a great idea- maybe go partners with the Feds (in addition to them paying taxes on profits) in the venture.
Mockingjay says
Come on – JW is not a satirical website, so stop using headlines from The Onion.
gravenimage says
Mockingjay, this is *not* a joke.
Here are some of the appalling countries that have been elected to the UN Human Rights Council? Just now, it includes Albania, Bangladesh, China, Cuba, and–yes–Saudi Arabia. Pakistan and Yemen have been on previous counsels.
As for the above story, if you don’t like the above source, how about the Daily Caller:
“UN Puts Saudi Arabia On Commission Responsible For ‘Gender Equality And The Empowerment Of Women’”
http://dailycaller.com/2017/04/20/un-puts-saudi-arabia-on-commission-responsible-for-gender-equality-and-the-empowerment-of-women/
or Arutz Sheva:
“One for Ripley’s: Saudi Arabia on UN Gender Equality Commission”
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/228461
There are may more.
Mockingjay says
Gravenimage – I know this is real.
But it’s just way too absurd to be real.
Way way way too absurd.
– I thought I’d just make a joke of it, as some things to me are just too absurd to say anything serious about it…
gravenimage says
I know how you feel, Mockingjay. The only reason I took this so seriously is that there really are people who deny that this sort of thing is happening.
Terry says
I am fairly certain that Libya was also on the Human Rights Commission before Hillary Clinton had him murdered and Libya has become a hellhole battleground.
gravenimage says
Libya was pretty bad even before Gaddafi was taken out.
tom parry says
welcome to the year 2017 the eu and un will do us in, I don’t think Trump is draining the swamp either-where is his helath care plan?? etc. etc.
Terry says
He has been in office 3 months; with a hostile Congress (on many issues- and the democraps slow walking appointees). (Health care reform is one issue where the Congress has been hostile). Courts (9th Circuit) making their own laws-on Trump TRYING TO IMPLEMENT LAWS SIGNED BY OBAMA.
Tin horn politicians defying the law ( sanctuary cities, campuses, states- and today-or was it yesterday- the Cal AG said withholding federal money form sanctuary cities and/or states is WHITE SUPREMACY.
He has to clean up 8 years of Obama’s fuck ups and some of George W’s and Clinton’s. (North Korea is partly as a result of Clinton’s dealings with them when he was Pres.)
Jeanette says
Absolutely!
I could see it taking DECADES to clear out the vipers’ nest of Jimmuh Cahtuh, Bill Clinton and Hussein-al-Obama (whose real name we don’t even know).
Terry says
I don’t see a serious issue.
IT IS ONLY 130TH OUT OF 142, IN TERMS OF GENDER EQUALITY.
TWELVE COUNTRIES RANKED LOWER THAN SAUDI ARABIA.
The Useless Nations could have picked pone of the lower rated countries.
They went for quality. (sarc)
(Although SA does have an English language newspaper with a female editor in chief)
Georg says
Among the stupidest things of all time.
Jeanette says
Depending on their strategy, it might be one of the smartest.
A lot of information is withheld from the “regular folks.”
efoc says
I stopped believing in the United Nations MANY years ago precisely because of crap like this. This is uttterly ludicrous, corrupt and despicable. Totalitarianism is truly on the march and part of the fabric of these organizations when things like this happen.
underbed cat says
I agree, this is utterly ludicrous…..Saudi Arabia stones, beheads woman, FGM, and just as worst crimes such as supporting sharia law…..and had used it wealth to accomplish the subversion of politicians in the U.S. apparently Trump included…this is not why I voted for Trump..I thought he understood what the enemy jihadist use as their doctrine…it is Islam. I don;’t see unconstrained by PC advisors on his team…just the opposite. Kelly knows he is not able to talk about the facts if he is even aware..which it appears he might be shocked by the events.
Arthur says
At least 15 of the following voted for Saudi Arabia (or, find the 7 who might not have):
1 Andorra
2 Argentina
3 Australia
4 Belgium
5 Brazil
6 Chile
7 Colombia
8 Czech Republic
9 Estonia
10 France
11 Germany
12 India
13 Ireland
14 Italy
15 Japan
16 Norway
17 Republic of Korea
18 South Africa
19 Spain
20 Sweden
21 UK
22 USA
Maybe, USA, Czech Republic, Australia, France, Norway, Spain, Italy were against?
Too bad this isn’t out on wikileaks!
Jeanette says
I’m sorry to see that Chile has become that stupid or evil.
gravenimage says
Jeanette, it was a secret ballot. Of the 22 countries Arthur lists, we know that 15 voted for Saudi Arabia–Chile may not have been one of them.
But however this worked out, it is still very disturbing–every one of the countries on this list should know better.
Lioness says
“Promoting women’s rights” according to sharia. Start life with FGM on the kitchen table, dress in a black garbage bag all your life, at 14 marry an old coot who rapes you and beats you up. “Feminists” all over the western world rejoice.
Jeanette says
This should be called “U.N. Agenda FGM.”
underbed cat says
Robert, the U.S ambassador to the UN wears a necklace with a palm tree and cresent moon….why is Nikki Haley wearing this symbol……also is going after Assad, when a lot of people doubt it was Sarin gas…..since not emergency help would survive touching victims without proper attire…some did not have gloves…? Is Trump unaware of Saudi influence?
gravenimage says
underbed cat wrote:
Robert, the U.S ambassador to the UN wears a necklace with a palm tree and cresent moon….why is Nikki Haley wearing this symbol……
…………………….
underbed cat, Nikki Haley is from South Carolina, and the palmetto is the symbol of that state–nothing nefarious going on here. South Carolina is known as the “Palmetto State”. I believe she first began wearing this necklace when she was governor there.
Here’s the necklace:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C9a6YKFXoAEmxDv.jpg
And here’s the flag of South Carolina:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_South_Carolina
underbed cat says
Yes I did see that this is the flag of South Carolina, the symbol is also very close to symbols including the Palmetto tree, cresent moon,ad a sword..wha la….curious about the history of South Carolina…but thanks for the comment. I just find Nikki clue less about the enemy we face and maybe I don’t agree that Assad he should be removed due to the fact he protects Christians and minorities he fights off terrorism….makes him enemy one. If Assad leaves the killing will go on could get worse. The U.S. chose the wrong side.
gravenimage says
Thanks for the reply, underbed cat.
I agree that Assad is–by default–the least bad faction in the region right now. He himself is a Jihadist who has backed Hizb’allah attacks on Isreal–but compared to groups like ISIS and al Nusra, he is definitely the lesser of evils.
Yes–Nikki Haley *is* pretty clueless about the Jihad threat–although she *has* taken the UN to task for its endless persecution of Israel, which I have been glad to see. She has also spoken out against state sponsors of terrorism like Iran.
I think she is a fairly decent person–just pretty ignorant about Islam itself. God knows this is depressingly common.
As for the origins of the imagery on the South Carolina flag, as you might imagine the details are not entirely clear. The crescent image dates way back to the Revolutionary War. It was worn on soldiers’ caps, and in some versions read “Liberty”–certainly, nothing to do with Islam.
As for the palmetto, it is just a distinctive tree found widely in that state–probably ultimately of no more significance than the magnolia tree for Mississippi, or the redwood for California.
underbed cat says
As far as Islamic terror…they go after security forces such as police to weaken they are at it again in Dallas..to early to know yet.
endislam says
Spit.
Carolyne says
And this is a most perfect example of why the US should withdraw from the UN, remove it from our shores, and stop giving it American taxpayer money.