Through the Looking Glass, Darkly

How brilliant; turn reality and truth inside-out and claim the victim to be the aggressor, and fantasy reigns supreme. The 14th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council is now meeting. The 18 elected members of the Council are as follows: Cameroon, Djibouti, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal, Bangladesh, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, Hungary, Russian Federation, Cuba, Mexico, Uruguay, Belgium, Norway, China and the United States.

This is what is generally termed a motley crew. Some of which countries' human rights records are fairly unassailable, the balance being, without question, teetering on the broad edge of deliberate, abysmal failure. Yet it is those countries who sit in judgement on the other countries of the world, to parse and to comment on the human rights abuses taking place in UN-member countries of the world.

At the 14th session of the Human Rights Council, member countries of the United Nations appeared before the assembled body of human rights arbitrators, to present the case for their concerns of human rights abuses occurring around the world. Candidates for comment on their lack of observance of human rights (they are not to be censured, unless the spelling of the country name starts with an "I" and ends with an "L") are brought gently to task and urged to refine their practises.

Of the 192 UN member countries, Spain spoke for the European Union, and France, Norway, Japan, the United Kingdom, Slovenia, Slovakia, United States, Belgium, Cuba, China, Pakistan, Netherlands, Algeria, Switzerland, New Zealand, Denmark, Austria, Australia, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Canada, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Iran, Ethiopia and Syria elected to speak their nations' concerns on human rights conditions in countries of the world.

At the June 8 general debate, countries like Myanmar (Burma), Democratic Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Korea (North Korea), Sudan, Sri Lanka, China, Iran, Thailand, Somalia and Kyrgyzstan were most commonly cited as countries whose records on human rights are the most devastatingly wanting. Ireland, that brave green isle, chose to highlight Israel and the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza. Though Ireland had company in that direction.

Israel's representative, Walid Abu Haya, spoke of the human rights violations that took place post-election in Iran, and the country's violent suppression of freedom of expression, assembly, religion or belief, and its silencing of political opposition, human rights defenders and journalists. Death sentences meted out in lieu of fair trials were mentioned, along with public hangings and stonings. Israel cited Pakistan's religious extremism, and its concern respecting the human rights situation in Syria, and that systemic violations should be addressed and condemned.

Canada's Jeffrey Heaton, spoke of his country's deep concern with the lack of security, freedom and basic human necessities in North Korea, condemning violations of human rights, inclusive of public executions, torture, child labour and indefinite detention. Canada also voiced concern respecting Iran, condemning the authorities' response to political dissent, among other gross violations. And mentioned Burma as well, for violations of basic human rights and freedoms.

Iran's Mohsen Ghanei took the opportunity to decry the disturbing trend of racism, racial and religious discrimination in many of the countries of the European Union. The UK's counter-terrorism legislation sacrificed human rights in the name of security, where torture was named as one type of abuse practised in lock-step with emergency measures. France no better, with restrictions on freedom of expression and the press, excessive police brutality, torture and harassment of prisoners. The government of Germany also continues to fail to address its human rights violations. And Canada's unspeakable human rights violations against aboriginal and Muslim communities were to be condemned. Much the same with the United States; obviously the Council must view the above with grave concern.

Syria's Rania al Rifaiy took umbrage with Israel's position, given its vicious attack on the 'freedom flotilla' bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israel's intolerable practise of torture was to be condemned. One of its prominent Rabbis termed Palestinians "swine", and the country's paranoia and superiority were another strike against it. Israel's belligerence continued to bring the region to the brink of war. Israeli children, taught to hate Arabs, and to use weapons comprised a future threat to peace in the region.

It is incumbent upon the United Nations Human Rights Council to condemn Israel's "brutality". Turkey agrees wholeheartedly, seeking a fresh condemnation of Israel over the death of 9 innocent Turkish humanitarian workers who sacrificed their lives for Palestinian Gazans in their brave attempt to end the "inhuman" blockade of the Gaza Strip. Turkey, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan and the Palestinian Authority had gathered in Istanbul to urge an end to the misery.

Syria's assertions at the 8 June session were not held up to the scrutiny of daylight and reality, but accepted without adverse challenge or indeed any comment. That it is Palestinian children who are taught to hate Israelis, not the reverse, that it remains Israel which is violently challenged and whose existence is not tolerated by neighbours who strive to obliterate it from the region, may represent reality, but not the well-accepted raving lunacy accepted at this forum.

When Canada's representative indelicately used the word "regime" in condemning human rights violations in Iran, Myanmar and North Korea, he was brought up sharply, knuckles rapped with the strict admonition "not to use such language" in reference to UN member states.