Durban Watch

EYEontheUN ALERT - August 27, 2007

Day 1 a.m.

The UN today launched its latest anti-Jewish and anti-American extravaganza – Durban II. This was Day 1 of the Preparatory Committee Meeting for the planning of a 2009 UN anti-racism conference intended to implement the infamous anti-racism conference held in Durban, South Africa in 2001. The representative of Libya, Najat Al-Hajjaji, as widely expected, was declared the Chairperson of the PrepCom. To add to the spectacle of a Libyan Chair of a human rights meeting, Cuba was acclaimed as a Vice-Chair and the PrepCom's Rapporteur. Iran and Pakistan were among the members then elected to serve on the organizing committee's inner circle, the Bureau – of an "anti-racism" conference.

Following these states' successful campaign to assume leadership positions that will allow them to engineer the proceedings from here on, the steady drum-beat of an anti-American and anti-Jewish propaganda war began – courtesy of the United Nations.

The Libyan Chairperson used her platform and opening remarks to focus on the response to 9-11 as giving rise to "increased intolerance" and objected to the war on terrorism being used as "a pretext by some states."

Egypt on behalf of the African Group lost no time in introducing "the Israeli occupation of Palestine" onto the agenda of Durban II, while lambasting the Danish cartoons as "incitement to racism" "which deeply hurt over a billion Muslims" and denouncing "the defamation of religion." (The UN's "defamation of religion" resolutions are notorious for making mention only of Islam.)

Cuba on behalf of the so-called "Non-Aligned Movement" took immediate aim at the war on terrorism as a racist exercise: "the passing of anti-terrorist legislation that provide broad spaces to arbitrariness and the exercise of public authority on discriminatory and xenophobic basis, continue to be a matter of our concern."

Pakistan, on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference proclaimed Muslims to be the central victim of racism today, with Israel as the appropriate focal point for Durban II. "The defamation of Islam and discrimination against Muslims represent the most conspicuous demonstration of contemporary racism and intolerance...It is regrettable that the world media has allowed defamation and blasphemy in this form... The conference should move the spotlight on the continued plight of the Palestinian People and non-recognition of their inalienable right to self-determination."

Bangladesh decried the protection for "freedom of expression to the detriment of other freedoms, like religion," and objected to "Muslims portrayed in violence and terrorism in political discourse and media," and the "upsurge in Islamophobia in recent years."

And this was only the opening morning of the first preparatory session. The original vision of the United Nations was "the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small" – a far cry from the pretense of equality championed by the UN of the 21st century.

Day 1 p.m.

Highlights from this afternoon's session include:

Iran-a leading member of the UN planning committee-lectured the world about terrorism and human rights. The diatribe included: "the pretext of a so-called war against terror, reflects the visible rise of contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia throughout the world especially against Muslims. ...The visible rise of Islamophobia with its most visible upsurge in the western countries, the reinterpretation and unlawful extension of the prohibition of visible signs of religion and culture in schools, the growing debate in some countries including at the level of political leaders that headscarf is antisocial and the selective profiling of people with an allegedly Islamic appearance."

Syria, another state sponsor of terrorism according to the State Department, and at the forefront of attempting to redefine anti-semitism and deny the hatred of Jews, makes clear the controlling factions' Durban II agenda: "The events of 9/11 opened the doors to new forms of racism and racial discrimination. See how countries were invaded and destroyed on the pretext of war on terrorism and other pretexts. ...This surge in racism adopted new forms: Islamophobia and against Semitic people. Durban Review Conference is an opportunity for us to face this surge."

South Africa's representative also used the opportunity to undermine the ongoing fight to stop terrorism, arguing: "It is important to contextualize the world since 9-11 as there have been dynamic changes. ...The Review Conference should identify contemporary scourges of racism, e.g. racial profiling in the fight against terrorism; incitement to religious hatred."

Contrary to the message coming from the UN "anti-racism" platform, equality will not be achieved by portraying the Jew or American as the global enemy of human rights.