UN cuts off American speaker, accuses her of using language beyond ‘the limits of tolerance and respect’
If you are unable to access the full article on Fox News due to reaching your maximum number of articles, you can create a free account to continue reading. By entering your email and agreeing to Fox News’ Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, you can gain access to the content you are looking for.
In a recent incident at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), a video statement was abruptly cut off when the speaker mentioned the fate of Ariel and Kfir Bibas. The incident occurred during an “Interactive Dialogue” regarding the UNHRC’s consideration of the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Anne Bayefsky, the Director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust, submitted a video statement to the UNHRC but was interrupted after just a few seconds. President of the UN Human Rights Council, Jürg Lauber, stopped the video and claimed that Bayefsky had used inappropriate language.
Bayefsky began her statement by addressing the murder of 9-month-old baby Kfir by Palestinian individuals. However, her video was paused and then ultimately shut off by Lauber, who cited the language used as the reason for the interruption.
Bayefsky believes that the UNHRC stage-managed the incident, as they had access to her video and transcript in advance and knew what she would say. She claims that there is no free speech at the UN for any NGO that calls out UN antisemitism.
Despite the censorship of Bayefsky’s statement, other speakers were allowed to make unfounded accusations against Israel without any objection from Lauber. This double standard in allowing some statements while censoring others has raised concerns about the lack of fairness and accountability within the UNHRC.
Bayefsky has called for the US to cut off funding to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in response to the censorship and bias displayed at the UNHRC. She argues that American funding should not support an organization that promotes antisemitism and fails to uphold principles of free speech and accountability.
Overall, the incident at the UNHRC highlights the ongoing challenges of addressing human rights issues within the UN system and the need for greater transparency and fairness in its proceedings. By creating a free account on Fox News, you can stay informed about these important developments and access the full article for more details.
