Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Surprise, surprise! |
|---|
| Saleema |
| 05/04/01 at 16:54:41 |
| AMERICAN MUSLIMS SAY U.N. VOTE LINKED TO U.S. "DOUBLE-STANDARD" ON RIGHTS (WASHINGTON, D.C., 5/4/2001) In what many are viewing as a stinging rebuke, the United States yesterday lost its seat on the 53-member U.N. Human Rights Commission. America had been represented on the commission since its founding in 1947. Several countries that the United States has criticized for their human rights record, including Sudan and Pakistan, were added to the commission. SEE: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/04/world/04NATI.html Those familiar with the politics involved in the vote say the United States faced resentment over not having a U.N. representative in place and for frequent criticism of human and religious rights abuses in other countries. Experts also cited America's stance on a number of international treaties such as those banning land mines or establishing an International Criminal Court. In a statement reacting to the vote, Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said: "This vote should serve as a wake-up call that nations around the world are sensing a double-standard in our government's positions on human and religious rights. On one hand, the United States expresses justifiable outrage at the persecution of Christians in China, while at the same time ignoring similar persecution of Christians and Muslims under Israeli occupation, and of Muslims in Chechnya, China, Bosnia, Kosova, Kashmir, and Turkey. "There needs to be one standard for human rights, not just selective concerns based on domestic political and religious agendas. American Muslim experts and organizations should be part of the policy-making process on these sensitive issues that affect our image and interests around the world." There are an estimated seven million Muslims in America and some 1.2 billion worldwide. Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in this country and worldwide. |
Individual posts do not necessarily reflect the views of Jannah.org, Islam, or all Muslims. All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. Comments are owned by the poster and may not be used without consent of the author.The rest © Jannah.Org |