Posted on 04/30/2014 4:04:45 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Norway's human rights record came in for sharp criticism during a UN hearing on Monday, with Saudi Arabia and Russia weighing in to highlight the country's shortcomings.
Saudi Arabia and other Islamic countries accused Norway of doing too little to protect its Muslim minority, with Saudi Arabia calling for all criticism of religions or their prophets to be made illegal.
Meanwhile, Russia accused the country of allowing extremist groups to "operate freely" and of moving too quickly to separate children from their parents.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende was in Geneva on Monday to respond to criticisms from no fewer than 91 other country's during a session of the United Nations' Universal Periodic Review, under which UN members take turns to go under scrutiny.
Before Monday's hearing, Brende conceded to Norway's NTB newswire that many of the countries collected together to criticise Norway themselves hardly had spotless human rights records.
"It is a paradox that countries which do not support fundamental human rights have influence on the council, but that is the United Nations," he said.
Human Rights Watch's latest report on Saudi Arabia noted that in 2012 the country had "stepped up arrests and trials of peaceful dissidents, and responded with force to demonstrations by citizens."
"Authorities continue to suppress or fail to protect the rights of nine million Saudi women and girls and nine million foreign workers," it continued. "As in past years, thousands of people have received unfair trials or been subject to arbitrary detention. The year has seen trials against half-a-dozen human rights defenders and several others for their peaceful expression or assembly demanding political and human rights reforms."
The Netherlands and Italy also criticised Norway for the long periods crime suspects spend in police custody and pre-trial detention, with more than 40 percent of those arrested spending longer than the 48 hour maximum recommended by the United Nations.
Send the crusaders into Saudi Arabia.
Dear Norway,
Deport your Muslim population now. Before it is to late.
The wolves are herding the sheep.
And our “president” is a sheep in wolf’s clothing.
What, is Norway failing to execute enough rape victims? Is it failing to mutilate women in the manner that Islam allows? Are seven year old girls being denied their sexual urges and marriage plans to 50 year old men?
Gosh, Norway, how could you?
Gets my vote. Now... how about ours?
So now we can’t criticize any religion or its prophets?
This is going to be bad news for all the douchebag comedians who have been freely mocking Jesus Christ with no fear of pushback, at least not in this life anyway.
And also, can we still mock climate change gurus, because they seem like religious prophets too.
Not that I care what Saudi Arabia or the UN communists think, just hypothetical questions.
Norway is guilty of human rights abuses, but they are hardly against Muslims. In fact, Muslims are an exalted class in that armpit.
What a damned bunch of arrogant bearded savages!
Norway should just kick them out.
Islam is a totally psychotic freak show.
Norway and Norwegians are WEAK... the muzzies know that..
Ripe for bullying..
Saudi Arabia isn’t doing enough to protect its Christian and Jewish minorities. Oh, wait....
Oh that’s right because in Saudia Arabia EVERYONE is free tow worship as they want, travel freely, and speak against Allah
This notion that saying anything critical of Islam is an actual violation of the civil rights of Musilims is horrifying, and it’s been showing up on our shores as well.
It’s becoming increasingly clear why the Left is so anxious to collaborate with Islam.
I missed the satire tag on this article. Or is it from the onion?
Saudi Arabia shut the F UP!!!!!!!
Shall we discuss how Christians are treated in Saudi Arabia?
Yeah, I laughed too. Thanks nickcarraway.
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