Israel Matzav

Egyptian human rights group rips Obama

An Egyptian human rights group has ripped American President Barack Obama for abandoning human rights in the Arab world.

In a report chronicling the human rights records of 12 Arab countries, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies accused the Obama administration of not taking a clear stand for Middle East reforms.

''The single most worrying sign for the future of the Arab region is the widespread impunity and flagrant lack of accountability that persists,'' according to the report. ''President Barack Obama avoided taking a clear stance on human rights issues in the Arab region.''

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said he could not comment specifically on the report's findings because he hadn't seen it, but he denied that the Obama administration has abandoned the quest for improved human rights in the Arab world and elsewhere.

''We continue to sustain a significant human rights dialogue. It's a dimension of virtually every contact that we have with representatives of countries in the region and around the world ... Human rights is vitally important to the United States,'' he said.

The report also said political and social protests remained targets for repression.

It's been clear to anyone who watches this region that President Obama has sacrificed human rights on the altar of 'engagement.' He is willing to see torture and repression in countries throughout this region in order to 'engage' with their corrupt leaders. And you thought the Democratic party was the party of the common man, didn't you? John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson are rolling over in their graves.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:06 PM