Saudi Arabia criticises Norway over human rights record

[Michele]

Saudi Arabia has criticised Norway's human rights record, accusing the country of failing to protect its Muslim citizens and not doing enough to counter criticism of the prophet Mohammed.

The gulf state called for all criticism of religion and of prophet Mohammed to be made illegal in Norway. It also expressed concern at “increasing cases of domestic violence, rape crimes and inequality in riches” and noted a continuation of hate crimes against Muslims in the country.

The Scandinavian nation came under scrutiny during the United Nations' Universal Periodic Review, in which 14 States are scheduled to have their human rights records examined.

Russia meanwhile called for Norway to clamp down on expressions of religious intolerance and and criticised the country’s child welfare system. They also recommended that Norway improve its correctional facilities for those applying for asylum status.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende was in Geneva to hear the concerns from 91 other countries. He told Norway's NTB newswire prior to the hearing: “It is a paradox that countries which do not support fundamental human rights have influence on the council, but that is the United Nations,” reported The Local.


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[Billy Jingo]

Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende was in Geneva to hear the concerns from 91 other countries. He told Norway's NTB newswire prior to the hearing: “It is a paradox that countries which do not support fundamental human rights have influence on the council, but that is the United Nations,”

That was cool.

[Gingersnap]

There has been a cool wind blowing though the Nordic countries over the past 4 years. Ideas that could barely be articulated 10 years ago are now finding room for discussion. The bank failure, the asylum failure, and work failure of the current social welfare programs have woken some people up and allowed some others speak up. We'll see where it goes.

Part of the reason the asylum programs have failed so disastrously there is that the Norsk were laughably naive (in retrospect). They did not envision a situation in which wife-beating goat herders would prefer to raise children in ignorance, prefer to force girl children into cousin marriage, or prefer to follow an inherently unjust and regressive social code. They thought that the asylum-seekers would embrace Western notions of equality and rule of law with open arms. For a very significant number of immigrants, this did not happen and it's still not happening with young adults who are native born. It's a big problem but it makes the Saudi criticism of Norway more understandable from the perspective of the immigrant community.

[Tom Servo]

That may be so, but Saudis criticizing ANYBODY on human rights and the treatment of immigrants is just… Topsy-turvy. I trust that Norway's representatives will politely nod their heads in a gesture of understanding the complaints, and continue to do whatever the fuck they want.

[Gingersnap]

That may be so, but Saudis criticizing ANYBODY on human rights and the treatment of immigrants is just… Topsy-turvy. I trust that Norway's representatives will politely nod their heads in a gesture of understanding the complaints, and continue to do whatever the fuck they want.

They are unlikely to take it seriously but too subtle to bitch-slap the Saudis publicly. Ten years ago this would have caused some hand-wringing and soul-searching among the intelligentsia but no so much today.