RINF<\/a>) – It’s one of the world’s most repressive states – a blight on humanity, a cancer in a part of the world known for despotic regimes.<\/p>\nIts human rights record is horrific by any standard. Fundamental rights don’t exist.<\/p>\n
State terror is official policy. Democracy is strictly prohibited. Torture and physical abuse are commonplace. So are public whippings, beheadings and hangings.<\/p>\n
Due process and judicial fairness don’t exist. Thousands of political prisoners languish in its gulag under deplorable conditions.<\/p>\n
Abuse of power is extreme. So is massive corruption and lack of transparency. Inequality is institutionalized. Independent media don’t exist. Nor do labor rights.<\/p>\n
Islam is the state religion. No other is tolerated. All Saudis are required by law to be Muslims. Failure to comply is considered apostasy – a capital offense.<\/p>\n
Capital punishment is standard practice for non-violent crimes – including adultery, armed robbery, drug smuggling, kidnapping, witchcraft, sorcery, and apostasy.<\/p>\n
Absolute monarchal rule tolerates no criticism or opposition. It’s despotic, lawless and brutal – a police state by any standard.<\/p>\n
Riyadh is Washington’s main Arab regional ally. One rogue state supports another.<\/p>\n
The UN Human Rights Council includes 47 Member States. Many comprise a rogue’s gallery of major human rights abusers – including Saudi Arabia, America, Algeria, Ethiopia, Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, among others.<\/p>\n
Membership is apportioned regionally as follows:<\/p>\n
African nations – 13 seats<\/p>\n
Asia\/Pacific: 13 seats<\/p>\n
Latin America and Caribbean – 8 seats<\/p>\n
Western Europe and other states – 7 seats<\/p>\n
Eastern Europe – 6 seats.<\/p>\n
Members serve for three years. They’re not eligible for immediate reelection after serving two consecutive terms.<\/p>\n
General Assembly Res. 60\/251 (April 2006) states:<\/p>\n
“(T)he Council shall be responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner\u2026”<\/p>\n
“(T)he Council should address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations thereon…”<\/p>\n
Most often HRC mocks what it’s mandated to support. It functions as a US imperial tool – notably siding with Washington-backed takfiri terrorists waging war on sovereign Syria. Failing to condemn US-orchestrated\/Saudi-led terror-bombing of Yemen.<\/p>\n
Reports indicate Riyadh wants to chair the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). Its membership alone is a travesty of justice.<\/p>\n
One human rights group called letting Riyadh head the HRC an “abomination, and cynical by a nation that beheads people in public squares.”<\/p>\n
It’s like letting a serial killer become police chief or a pyromaniac being appointed fire commissioner.<\/p>\n
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom criticized Riyadh’s human rights record – including its treatment of blogger Raif Badawi.<\/p>\n
He was sentenced to 1,000 lashes, 10 years imprisonment and possible capital punishment – for freely expressing his views.<\/p>\n
Wallstrom said “(o)ne must protest against what are (punitive) medieval methods.”<\/p>\n
Riyadh responded by refusing to issue business visas to Swedish nationals or renew current ones. It tolerates no criticism of its horrific practices – even from a high-ranking diplomat like Wallstrom.<\/p>\n
In January she tweeted: Riyadh’s “cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression has to be stopped.”<\/p>\n
Independent human rights groups condemn Riyadh’s record as one of the world’s most egregious for good reason.<\/p>\n
Human rights in the Kingdom don’t exist. Saudi Arabia is included in HRC’s Asian group. One of its member states is next in line for HRC’s chairmanship.<\/p>\n
Reports indicate Riyadh is lobbying intensively to get it. Washington is supportive. US pressure may get other Asian nations to back what demands rejection.<\/p>\n
Rogue state HRC chairmanship would mock what it claims to stand for. Riyadh’s membership alone lacks legitimacy.<\/p>\n
Appointing it head of the human rights group would make the organization a laughing stock. Don’t bet against it happening.<\/p>\n
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.<\/p>\n
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”<\/p>\n
http:\/\/www.claritypress.com\/LendmanIII.html<\/p>\n
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.<\/p>\n
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.<\/p>\n
It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Despotic Saudi Regime Lobbies to Chair Human Rights Council<\/b><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
by Stephen Lendman<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It’s one of the world’s most repressive states – a blight on humanity, a cancer in a part of the world known for despotic regimes.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Its human rights record is horrific by any standard. Fundamental rights don’t exist.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
State terror is official policy. Democracy is strictly prohibited. Torture and physical abuse are commonplace. So are public whippings, beheadings and hangings.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Due process and judicial fairness don’t exist. Thousands of political prisoners languish in its gulag under deplorable conditions.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Abuse of power is extreme. So is massive corruption and lack of transparency. Inequality is institutionalized. Independent media don’t exist. Nor do labor rights.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Islam is the state religion. No other is tolerated. All Saudis are required by law to be Muslims. Failure to comply is considered apostasy – a capital offense.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Capital punishment is standard practice for non-violent crimes – including adultery, armed robbery, drug smuggling, kidnapping, witchcraft, sorcery, and apostasy. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Absolute monarchal rule tolerates no criticism or opposition. It’s despotic, lawless and brutal – a police state by any standard.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Riyadh is Washington’s main Arab regional ally. One rogue state supports another.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The UN Human Rights Council includes 47 Member States. Many comprise a rogue’s gallery of major human rights abusers – including Saudi Arabia, America, Algeria, Ethiopia, Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, among others.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Membership is apportioned regionally as follows:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
African nations – 13 seats<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Asia\/Pacific: 13 seats<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Latin America and Caribbean – 8 seats<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Western Europe and other states – 7 seats<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Eastern Europe – 6 seats.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Members serve for three years. They’re not eligible for immediate reelection after serving two consecutive terms.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
General Assembly Res. 60\/251 (April 2006) states:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“(T)he Council shall be responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner…” <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
“(T)he Council should address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations thereon…”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Most often HRC mocks what it’s mandated to support. It functions as a US imperial tool – notably siding with Washington-backed takfiri terrorists waging war on sovereign Syria. Failing to condemn US-orchestrated\/Saudi-led terror-bombing of Yemen.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Reports indicate Riyadh wants to chair the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). Its membership alone is a travesty of justice.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
One human rights group called letting Riyadh head the HRC an “abomination, and cynical by a nation that beheads people in public squares.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
It’s like letting a serial killer become police chief or a pyromaniac being appointed fire commissioner.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom criticized Riyadh’s human rights record – including its treatment of blogger Raif Badawi.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
He was sentenced to 1,000 lashes, 10 years imprisonment and possible capital punishment – for freely expressing his views.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Wallstrom said “(o)ne must protest against what are (punitive) medieval methods.” <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Riyadh responded by refusing to issue business visas to Swedish nationals or renew current ones. It tolerates no criticism of its horrific practices – even from a high-ranking diplomat like Wallstrom.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
In January she tweeted: Riyadh’s “cruel attempt to silence modern forms of expression has to be stopped.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Independent human rights groups condemn Riyadh’s record as one of the world’s most egregious for good reason.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Human rights in the Kingdom don’t exist. Saudi Arabia is included in HRC’s Asian group. One of its member states is next in line for HRC’s chairmanship.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Reports indicate Riyadh is lobbying intensively to get it. Washington is supportive. US pressure may get other Asian nations to back what demands rejection.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Rogue state HRC chairmanship would mock what it claims to stand for. Riyadh’s membership alone lacks legitimacy. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Appointing it head of the human rights group would make the organization a laughing stock. Don’t bet against it happening.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
http:\/\/www.claritypress.com\/LendmanIII.html<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs. <\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1217,"featured_media":151523,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[461],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-151510","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-editorials"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151510","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1217"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=151510"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151510\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/151523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=151510"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=151510"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=151510"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}