Check Against Delivery






Statement by Mr. Walid Abu-Haya
Permanent Mission of Israel
To the United Nations, Geneva


Item 4
General Debate
Human Rights Council






8 June 2010 
Mr. President,

Twelve months ago, almost to the day, the world shook when it witnessed the grave post-election human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran.  In violent suppression of the freedoms of opinion or expression, assembly and association, religion or belief, and the press, Iran silenced, and continues to silence, the voice of political opposition, human rights defenders and journalists.  The issuance of death sentences outside of internationally recognized fair trial standards is standard practice, and public hanging and stoning are the norm.  We regret the Human Rights Council has failed so far to address the situation.

More than that, and ironically, Iran, which systematically abuses the human rights of women and girls, was recently elected member of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). 

Mr. President,

Pakistan purports to promote the freedom of religion or belief and advocates the need for multiculturalism and tolerance.  In reality, however, Pakistan fails to take the appropriate steps to protect its minorities from violence and allows religious extremism to operate within a culture of impunity.  

A recent example of the attacks on the Ahmadi community on 28 May could be added to a long list of deadly attacks against minorities.  In this attack alone, committed by Islamic extremists with suicide bombs, guns and other weapons, at least 94 innocent people were violently killed and many other injured.  This, and previous similar attacks, must be investigated and their perpetrators brought to justice.

Israel also expresses its concern regarding the overall worsening human rights situation in the Syrian Arab Republic.

In particular, Israel calls attention to the situation of a large number of political prisoners and violations of citizens' privacy rights, freedoms of expression or opinion, press, assembly and association, and movement.  Just last month the Committee against Torture (CAT) expressed concern with regard to a variety of issues, ranging from reports of torture, ill-treatment and death in custody to violence against women and the laws that perpetrate such acts. The systematic violations of such autocracy must be condemned and addressed.  

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) continues to suppress the civil and political rights of its people. 

The General Assembly has consistently condemned the DPRK’s human rights abuses, including inter alia the absence of due process of law, death sentences for political offenses, and public execution.  


Thank you.