The United Nations is ill-equipped to address racism around the world because Muslim countries have "hijacked" human rights issues in the organization, said panelists at a Hudson Institute forum today.
Anne Bayefsky, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, said that over the 20 years she has been involved with the U.N. High Commission on Human Rights, she has never seen a U.N. resolution on human rights in Sudan. But she has seen multiple resolutions on Israel. Ms. Bayefsky believes these anti-Israeli resolutions are supported by pro-Palestinian Muslim nations.
Like Ms. Bayefsky, Paul Marshall, another Hudson senior fellow; Sheikh Ahmed Subhy Mansour, Harvard Law School; and Fahad Nazer, resident fellow at the Institute of Gulf Affairs, all believe that a proposed 2009 United Nations World Conference on Racism is another attempt by Muslim countries to co-opt the issue of human rights for their own gain.
The conference's target is "Islamophobia," a term used to describe discrimination against Islam and Muslims. The U.N. members advocating a prohibition against Islamophobia include Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Mr. Marshall said today the proposed conference's "theological iron curtain" will block delegates from developing solutions to advance human rights in the Middle East.
"The war on terrorism has many fronts," said Ms. Bayefsky, "The most prominent front is the war of ideas."
Limited free speech and prohibition of the term "Islamophobia" are part of the "war of ideas," panelists said.
According to statistics presented at the forum, U.S. taxpayers will fund 22 percent of conference.
Not all of the panelists agreed that "Islamophobia" was exaggerated.
"As a Muslim, I can personally attest that 'Islamophobia' is not a myth," said Mr. Nazer, a Muslim who has discussed Islam with people unaware of his religious association. He said, "A lot of people have misconceptions that they think are fact."
-- Rob Gutierrez, intern, The Washington Times
Comments (3)
Please note the following correction to this report. I did not say there has never been a UN resolution on human rights in Sudan. I said: while genocide is ongoing, in the last five years the UN General Assembly has not adopted a single resolution critical of human rights violations by Sudan. At the same time, there are more than 20 resolutions adopted by the General Assembly each year condemning Israel. If you would like more statistics see:
http://www.eyeontheun.org/actions-search.asp
Anne Bayefsky
Posted by anne bayefsky | October 31, 2007 2:12 PM
I personally think we as the American nation should not allow these radical muslims or any muslims for that matter to enter our coutry. I feel that so many politicians are nieve to the fact that muslim immigration is in fact on the rise. We are at war with these [people] for God sake. This may be America and that means for AMERICANS not immigrant muslims. It really seems that we as Americans have lost our pride we once had to ban together and strand firm. Terrorism is upon us and whether it is white supremisist or muslim extremeist they must be stopped at all cost in order to preserve our freedom as a way of life. We must not allow these muslim radicals to be afforded the same rights as we have because their values are less than ours. We must not allow our society to lessen its morals and beliefs of freedom for them.
In closing we must keep them out!!!
Posted by The Nightwalker | November 6, 2007 11:24 AM
The millions of Muslims who have emigrated here within the last 2 decades for the most part have not nor will not integrate (assimilate) into American life. Most are waiting for the day when they expect Islam and sharia will rule our country, the remainder are ignorant sheep. Our leadership in Washington has catered to them for too long and if we don't elect a truly patriotic president next year, we may lose our country. These people should for the most part, be deported along with the millions of illegals who have come over the southern border, invited by Pres. Jorje Bush.
Posted by alma fraik | November 11, 2007 1:10 PM