Israel Matzav

Saudi Arabia is a candidate for the UN Human Rights Council

You can't make this stuff up. Saudi Arabia has declared itself a candidate for the UN Human Rights Council:

The Permanent Mission of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations presents its compliments to the Secretary-General of the United Nations and has the honour to inform him that the Government of Saudi Arabia has decided to present its candidature to the Human Rights Council at its first election, which will take place in May 2006.

Saudi Arabia has a confirmed commitment to the defence, protection and promotion of human rights. This commitment has been manifested in its performance as a member of the Commission on Human Rights. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia pursues a policy of active cooperation with international organizations in the field of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Saudi Arabia is a party to eight international human rights instruments. Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to the work of the Human Rights Council and intends to make every endeavour to contribute to its deliberations and activities for the protection and promotion of human rights.

You can't be a Jew or a Christian in Saudi Arabia. I guess that doesn't count as 'human rights.'

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:18 AM