UN Watch revealed that Saudi Arabia’s representative in Geneva, Ambassador Faisal bin Hassan Trad, was elected Chair of the 5-person panel that chooses UN human rights experts.
The story went viral and was reported around the world:
- Newsweek: “UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer said in a statement on Sunday, “Petro-dollars and politics have trumped human rights.”
- The Independent: “The United Nations is coming under fire for handing Saudi Arabia a key human rights role even though the Kingdom has “arguably the worst record in the world” on freedoms for women, minorities and dissidents.”
- The Huffington Post: “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.”
