The United Nations was criticised on Sunday after appointing a representative of Saudi Arabia to lead an influential panel charged with setting standards for human rights around the world.
The appointment of Faisal bin Hassan Trad was decried by Ensaf Haidar, wife of Raif Badawi, a Saudi blogger being held by the state, as well as a UN watchdog that said the decision proved that “oil continues to trump basic human rights principles.”
Badawi was arrested in 2010, and in January received the first 50 of 1,000 lashed for apostasy. He remains incarcerated in Saudi Arabia. Writing on Facebook Ensaf Haidar said that the UN decision gave the government in Riyadh the “a green light to start flogging again”.
UN Watch, a non-governmental organisation, revealed the appointment of the Saudi ambassador to the UN. Trad was elected in June to be chair the panel that oversees the UN’s Human Rights Council, with the power to select personnel for key human rights roles around the world.
UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer called Trad’s appointment “scandalous,” adding: “Saudi Arabia has arguably the worst record in the world when it comes to religious freedom and women’s rights, and continues to imprison the innocent blogger Raif Badawi."
“It’s bad enough that Saudi Arabia is a member of the council, but for the UN to go and name the regime as chair of a key panel only pours salt in the wounds for dissidents languishing in Saudi prisons,” he said.
On Friday, Trad responded to the recent UN report on the death penalty, which called for countries to scrap the punishment. “It is imperative for us not to forget the rights of victims while listening to the calls for abrogation of the provision in the law for capital punishment in the pretext of protecting the rights of the killer,” he said.
Trad said that as an Islamic country, Saudi Arabia is committed to Sharia, which protects the rights of both the offenders and the victims.
Tributes to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia
"He will be remembered for his commitment to peace and for strengthening understanding between faiths"
- David Cameron(01 of09)
Open Image ModalSamira Rahmoon, center, the wife of Lebanese TV psychic Ali Sibat who was arrested by the Saudi religious police in May 2008 and sentenced to death last November on charges of practicing witchcraft, tries to block the road with her daughter Jamal, appealing for her husband's release just months after he escaped a sentence of beheading. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
'King Abdullah was a strong advocate of women'
- Christine Lagarde, head of the IMF(02 of09)
Open Image ModalA Saudi woman gets into a taxi at a mall in Riyadh, because of the driving ban for women in Saudi Arabia (credit:FAYEZ NURELDINE via Getty Images)
"Despite the turmoil of events in the region around him, he was a patient and skilful moderniser of his country"
- Tony Blair(03 of09)
Open Image ModalA woman beheaded in the street, after she was found guilty of killing her husband's six-year-old daughter, is seen screaming her innocence. A policeman was arrested following the uploading of the footage.
"His contribution to the prosperity and security of the Kingdom and the region will long be remembered."
- Philip Hammond, Foreign Secretary(04 of09)
Open Image ModalA leaked video shows three men being publicly beheaded in Saudi.
"I found His Majesty always to be a wise and reliable ally, helping out nations build on a strategic relationship and enduring friendship"
- Former US president George HW Bush (05 of09)
Open Image ModalProtesters hold a rally in front of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington DC to protest of the persecution and punishment of Saudi activist Raif Badawi, who was sentenced to 1,000 lashes simply for publishing a blog criticizing the Saudi monarchy (credit:Olivier Douliery/ABACA USA)
"As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions. The closeness and strength of the partnership between our two countries is part of King Abdullah's legacy"
- Barack Obama(06 of09)
Open Image ModalProtesters simulate a flogging in front of the Saudi embassy during a demonstration against the 10-year prison sentence and 1,000 lashes of Saudi activist Raef Badawi, who received a first installment of 50 lashes and was scheduled to have 20 weekly whipping sessions until his punishment is complete. (credit:NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images)
"He was also a vocal advocate for peace, speaking out against violence in the Middle East and standing as a critical partner in the war on terror"
- Republican Senator John McCain(07 of09)
Open Image ModalSaudis gather as police forces surround a mosque to hunt wanted militants, in Khobar, Saudi Arabia, after one-month amnesty, in 2004 (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
"A brave partner in fighting violent extremism who proved just as important as a proponent of peace"
- Secretary of State John Kerry(08 of09)
Open Image ModalA Saudi driver stops in front of a billboard bearing logos of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice - better known as the Saudi religious police, who enforce beliefs of the strict Wahhabi sect of Islam. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
"A powerful voice for tolerance, moderation and peace - in the Islamic world and across the globe"
- US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel(09 of09)
Open Image ModalThe death penalty can be imposed for murder, rape, blasphemy, armed robbery, drug use, apostasy, adultery, and witchcraft. (credit:REX)