Keeping a straight-face at the UN, Anne Bayefsky

Are you fascinated by liars totally unabashed about spewing forth from a global platform? Well come on down to the UN. After all you're paying for it.

Meet Mostafa Alaei, Director of Department of Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, November 8, 2005:

Regretfully millions of people are daily targets of discriminatory treatment, as countless human beings continue to be victims of xenophobia and related intolerance. Modern-day racism is...increasingly...based on culture, nationality or religion... It is our common duty to look back to learn from history so that we never forget bitter experiences of mankind during the second world war...Today, evil manifestations of xenophobia and intolerance not only remain stumbling blocks to full realization of human rights but also represent a serious danger to international peace and security... In this regard the Islamic republic of Iran as one of the pioneering states in combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance would like to draw your attention to some key steps which in view of my delegation are considerably important: Establishment of trust among people of different religions, cultures and civilizations as the highest priority of all member states and regional and international organizations... Public authorities should not only condemn xenophobic manifestations but ensure that law enforcement and other practices be followed through pledges of non-discrimination. Taking action against acts of violence based on religious conviction, culture, race and ethnicity and ensuring the access of victims to effective legal remedies and the right to seek just and adequate reparation for any damage suffered as a result of such acts.

Fortunately, UN Headquarters is a large building with plenty of space to let loose in other rooms. So on the same day, November 8, 2005, in the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Hossein Maleki, Counselor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran, while talking about Palestinians said he was worried about women as victims of domestic violence and about freedom of the press.

In their daily lives women are struggling with poverty, unemployed husbands or the loss of their spouses, children at risk, scarcity of/or no food to feed their families, demolition of their houses and shrinking health and other social services. All these domestic violence had a severe impact on women and on their children's health. Women are mainly subject to depression, anxiety, phobias and other somatic symptoms...
[T]he working conditions of Palestinian journalists remain very difficult. They do not enjoy the minimum freedom of movement necessary to carry out their duties. Palestinian journalists are prevented from going to places where events are taking place and they have to rely on foreign journalists for information.

Just in case you got confused:

1) October 26, 2005, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad calls for "the annihilation of the Zionist regime."


2) June 20, 2005, Nobel Laureate, Shirin Ebadi "is particularly concerned about the treatment of women by the regime. She cites the punishment meted out to women convicted of adultery. "Unfortunately stoning exists in our law. According to the law, the punishment for adultery is to be stoned," she said. "You bury the person up to their waist and then you throw small stones at them until they die. The stones should not be very big so that the person suffers before dying. "I think this comes from the wrong interpretation of Islam." Two Iranian women are facing imminent execution for adultery. One is sentenced to flogging and then hanging while the other will be buried up to her waist and then stoned to death." See also October 15, 2005.


3) 2005 annual report, Reporters without borders, Iran, "Press freedom shrank daily during 2004 in Iran, one the world's 10 countries most repressive of the media. Countless threats hang over journalists and they are beaten when thrown in jail. The country has for years been the Middle East's biggest prison for journalists."

Posted:  Wednesday, November 09, 2005