Unsplash/Stijn te Strake - A bird's eye view of the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia must immediately revoke the death sentence handed down to Mohammed Al Ghamdi for posting critical views online, as the crackdown on freedom of expression in the country continues to escalate, independent UN human rights experts said on.
Mr. Al Ghamdi was arrested by the Saudi security services on 11 June 2022 and charged with criminal offences for opinions he expressed on social media platforms X and YouTube.
The charges included “betrayal of his religion, country, and rulers;” “spreading false rumours with intent to disrupt public order and destabilise security;” and “supporting terrorist ideology and a terrorist group.”
On 10 July this year, Saudi Arabia’s Specialised Criminal Court found Mr. Al Ghamdi guilty and sentenced him to death. According to the court, Mr. Al Ghamdi was being severely punished for “heinous crimes” that were allegedly “amplified through a global media platform.”
“The mere expression of critical views online cannot meet the threshold under international law for the imposition of the death penalty,” urged the human rights experts.
“Under no circumstances do the alleged crimes constitute the ‘most serious’ crimes,” they added.
UN experts urge #SaudiArabia to immediately revoke death sentence handed to Mohammed Al Ghamdi for his tweets & YouTube activities, as crackdown on #FreedEx continues: These punishments are completely inconsistent with int'l law & human rights standards. https://t.co/c8KL2UsKCvpic.twitter.com/LYm5mBVqBD
The Human Rights Council-appointed experts stressed that freedom of expression and opinion were critical to achieving a free and democratic society and sustainable development.
“It is alarming that Saudi Arabia’s punishments for online expression include the death penalty or prison sentences of several decades under anti-terrorism laws. These punishments are completely inconsistent with international law and human rights standards,” the experts said.
“The arrest, detention and sentencing to death of Muhammad Al Ghamdi sends a clear and chilling message to all those who wish to express themselves freely in Saudi Arabia.”
‘Flagrant violation’ of human rights
The human rights experts urged the Specialised Criminal Court and other judicial institutions in Saudi Arabia to grant Mr. Al Ghamdi a stay of execution, or temporary hold on legal proceedings.
“We are deeply concerned by reports that Mr. Al Ghamdi’s mental health has deteriorated since his detention, aggravated by the lack of medical care and the conditions of his detention,” the experts said.
“This sentence, if carried out, would constitute a flagrant violation of international human rights standards and will be considered an arbitrary execution.”
Special Rapporteurs
Special Rapporteurs are part of the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council, work on a voluntary and unpaid basis, are not UN staff, and work independently from any government or organisation.
Tournai, city of art and history: discovering its hidden treasures
Located in Belgium, the city of Tournai is often overlooked by tourists who prefer to go to more popular destinations like Brussels or Bruges. However, Tournai is full of hidden treasures that deserve to be discovered and explored.
Tournai is known to be the oldest city in Belgium, having been founded over 2000 years ago. Its rich history dates back to Roman times, and the city was later occupied by the Franks and Normans. Over the centuries, Tournai has become an important cultural and artistic center, and this is reflected in its exceptional architectural heritage.
One of the jewels of Tournai is its Notre-Dame Cathedral. Built in the 12th century, it is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in Europe. The cathedral also houses a treasure trove of religious art, including sculptures, paintings and liturgical objects. Be sure to visit the Cathedral Museum, which displays a collection of medieval artwork and religious treasures.
Another must-see site in Tournai is the belfry, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Dominating the city, this imposing tower offers a panoramic view of Tournai and its surroundings. Inside, you can learn about the city’s history through interactive exhibits and historical artifacts.
Stroll the cobbled streets of Tournai and you will discover many other architectural treasures. The Grand-Place is a lively place where there are beautiful Flemish Renaissance style houses. Rue des Chapeliers is a real treat for architecture lovers, with its 14th century stone houses. Don’t forget to visit the Bishop’s House, a magnificent example of neo-classical architecture.
In addition to its rich architectural heritage, Tournai is also a city of art. The Museum of Fine Arts houses an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures and ceramics, ranging from medieval to contemporary art. There you will find works by great artists like Rubens, Van Dyck and Bruegel. The Natural History Museum is also an interesting place to visit, with its collection of stuffed animals and fossils.
Tournai is also known for its festivals and cultural events. Every year, the city hosts the Car d’Or procession, an ancestral tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages. During this procession, a golden cart is pulled through the streets of the city, accompanied by musicians and dancers in traditional costumes. This is a unique spectacle not to be missed.
For food lovers, Tournai does not disappoint. The city is full of restaurants and cafes offering traditional Belgian cuisine, as well as international dishes. Don’t miss out on tasting the local specialties, such as mussels and fries, white pudding and waffles.
In conclusion, Tournai is a city of art and history that deserves to be discovered. Its rich architectural heritage, museums and festivals make it an exciting cultural destination. Whether you are a lover of art, history or gastronomy, Tournai will not fail to seduce you. So, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden treasures of this magnificent Belgian city.
Proposed law against the public burning of holy scriptures in Denmark
Last summer, a Quran was burnt in Sweden. This unspeakable act aroused strong emotions in the international community. Following this criminal act, Denmark is now proposing legislation to criminalise such acts and protect the holy scriptures.
Article written by Bashy Quraishy* and Thierry Valle* (see short bios at the bottom)
Mr Bashy Quraishy brings his expertise to bear on the discussions that this legislation is stirring up in Danish society. He is assisted in his analysis by the President of CAP Liberté de conscience.
Denmark is a peaceful country where laws are respected, and the society practices an age-old proverb: “One can always agree to disagree”.
This mindset has helped Danes to avoid big differences, minimise societal conflicts and live a rather peaceful life. The cornerstone of accepting differing opinions is the notion of unlimited freedom of expression. It means that people can say anything, they please. It has worked because Denmark has been a mono-cultural, mono-ethnic, and Christian nation for nearly one thousand years. That attitude, however, has also created an underlying intolerance and hostility towards other cultures, faiths and living styles, especially towards Muslim communities and Islam.
Since the early seventies when immigrants from developing countries were allowed to come and work, ill will has slowly but surely increased towards those groups that are officially described as; foreigners with non-European cultural backgrounds.
Various political parties were established on an agenda of negativity that a large part of the mainstream media helped to spread.
It was in this background, that Danish politician – Rasmus Paludan –started burning the Quran in public in 2017 – first in minority-populated areas, then in public places and in front of the Danish parliament. Despite protests from minorities and progressive Danes, the government did not do anything to stop it. Instead, the police kept on providing protection during his provocative actions. According to media reports, from 2017 up until 2020, the Danish state used 127 million Kr. to protect Mr. Paludan and his Quran-burning events.
He later moved to Sweden and started doing the same. Some Iranian and Iraqi refugees have started copying him by burning the Quran in public and in front of various embassies. It must be mentioned that this happened with the authorities’ permission and resulted in local and diplomatic protests. It is said that there have been over 100 Quran burnings over the past few months in 2023.
The international condemnationsof Quran desecration in Denmark and Sweden
Unfortunately, the inaction of the Danish and Swedish states, not only helped to escalate the deteriorating situation, it created anger among Muslims in Scandinavia and internationally. OIC and individual countries reacted strongly. They believed that such actions were planned and implemented without authorities taking any action to stop them. Many non-Muslim lands also strongly condemned the desecration of religious books like the Quran.
First Denmark refused to act and kept on talking about freedom of Expression but when the warnings of trade sanctions started coming from OIC, and powerful Muslim countries as well as warning statements from the UK, USA and China, Denmark thought about its economic and foreign interests and the government decided to propose the bill to outlaw the burning of all the religious books.
Facts about the bill against the burning of holy scriptures
The government on 25th August 2023, presented its proposal for a legislative intervention to prevent the burning of holy books such as the Quran and the Bible in public places in Denmark.
The government’s proposed bill, reads, “Anyone who, publicly or with the intention of spreading it in a wider circle, is guilty of improper treatment of an object with significant religious significance for a religious community or an object that appears as such, is punished with a fine or imprisonment for up to two years”. The proposal does not include satirical drawings or religious clothing. The law, if passed, would be attached as “subsection 2” to the existing section 110 of the Criminal Code, which prohibits desecration of other nations’ flags.
It seems that the proposal is aimed at actions that take place in a public place or on the Internet, and it does not just apply to burning. one must also not throw on the ground, trample on, cut or tear such a religiously significant object. In the end, the courts will have to deal with the gravity of the crime.
The reactions
After the proposal was made public in a hastily arranged Pres briefing in the parliament, Jørn Vestergaard, professor emeritus found the word, Inappropriate or Improper treatment as too vague a term. He suggested using the term ‘degrading’ instead. Lasse Ellegaard, a famous intellectual said that burning the Quran (or other holy books) is an assault on the believer who has based his existence on its content. And a reminder to all Muslims that the arrogant Christian West still celebrates the mentality of the Crusades.
Historian and former editor-in-chief at Politiken Newspaper, Bo Lidegaard, who had worked in the Prime Minister’s Office during the Mohammed crisis said that banning Quran burnings is about protecting minorities and it is a misunderstanding that the Quran burnings had anything to do with freedom of expression.
In my own opinion, the proposal is very vague and rather confusing. The law would cover all religions and it is the court that would decide after the police complaints. The most important issue is the attitude of the police authorities who must take the cases to the courts and the judges who would act. Here, I am a bit sceptical. But all in all, I welcome the initiative.
The reaction of the Muslim communities and the Danish public
Muslim communities, religious reps and NGOs in Denmark have welcomed this initiative. They expressed their support both in press releases, letters to editors and articles in the media. In the survey, conducted by institute Voxmeter on behalf of news wire Ritzau, 1,000 people were asked whether they want the proposed law change to be adopted.
Some 50.2 per cent answered “yes”, 35 per cent said “no” and 14.8 per cent did not know. The survey was among the first to assess public opinion on the pertinent issue since the government announced that it would ban Quran burnings in public.
Most of the Danish media, political parties and a part of the elite are opposing this bill and use the usual excuse of freedom of expression. These fundamentalist forces are those people who have no regard for other people’s opinions, and ideas and only want to push their own version of the reality on others and the society. They even do not care that the Danish Constitution clearly points out that freedom of expression is always under responsibility and Danish Panel Code 266b states that freedom should not be misused to harass minorities or demonise people of other faiths or cultures.
Muslim countries welcome Danish “Quran law”.
The Danish government’s bill is appreciated and a step in the right direction, according to Muslim countries. Iraq’s foreign minister Fouad Hussein was among the first to respond to the Danish government’s desire to criminalize Quran burnings while Muqtada al-Sadr, leader of the Sadr militia declared on Twitter, that he is now prepared to enter into a meaningful and constructive dialogue with Denmark and Sweden.
Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem al-Abdullah al-Sabah and the chairman of the Arab League parliament, Adel bin Abdul Rahman Al-Asoumi, called Denmark’s bill “a step in the right direction”. Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Pakistan has always maintained that the desecration and burning of holy scriptures constitutes a serious act of religious hatred, which must not be allowed under the guise of freedom of expression, opinion and protest.
According to Hürriyet, Turkey had a great influence on the Danish government’s decision, and therefore the bill is considered by the Turkish leadership as a step in the right direction.
Heinrich Heine predicted the Quran burnings 200 years ago
Quran burning in Europe is not a new phenomenon. On August 20, it was exactly 200 years ago that Heinrich Heine’s drama Almansor was performed at the National Theater in Braunschweig. In Heinrich Heine’s drama from 1823, the main character’s servant, Hassan, says almost prophetically: ‘This is just the beginning, but where you burn books, you also burn people in the end’. He was referring to 1499, when the Archbishop of Toledo, the confessor of the Spanish royal couple and the Grand Inquisitor Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros ordered the burning of five thousand books containing ‘Muslim’ theology, philosophy, and natural science. Quran burnings have thus also been carried out in the name of Christianity. It is worth remembering in these Quran-burning times.
What is the latest development regarding the proposed law?
On 25 August 2023, the bill was sent for public consultation for four weeks with a deadline of 22 September 2023, so that the bill can be expected to be tabled in the opening week of the coming parliamentary year. On September 1, 2023, the Minister of Justice Peter Hummelgaard presented a written submission before the Folketing, where he proposed an act to amend the Penal Code (Prohibition against inappropriate treatment of objects with significant religious significance for a religious community.
In his letter to the parliament, the justice minister argued that the recent Quran burnings have meant that Denmark is increasingly seen in large parts of the world as a country that facilitates mockery and denigration of other countries and religions. The actions must be assumed to have had as their primary purpose to mock and provoke reactions. Let us hope that Danish bill would soon become a law and would inspire Sweden to do the same.
* Bashy Quraishy is a member of a number of Commissions, Committees and Boards involved with Human Rights, Ethnic/Religious Equality Issues, anti-racism, anti-discrimination, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, both in Denmark and internationally. He is the Coordinator-ENAR Platform – in Denmark and a Council Member – of the Institute for Human Rights – Denmark. he also animates “Bashy’s Corner” TV Copenhagen- Denmark.
* Thierry Valle is president of the Coordination of the Associations and the People for Freedom of Conscience, a European NGO with United Nations Consultative Status, created two decades ago and dedicated to protecting the Right of Freedom of Religion and Belief.
A Film Festival entitled “Honoring women Life Freedom “was organised in United Nations plaza New york on September 14th by Empower Women Media organization and stopFemicide to Commemorate the death of Mahsa Amini one year later and the Iranian uprisings for equality,justice and human dignity.
The festival started with a commemoration ceremony and a morning session with very high level speakers and experts to highlight the women and men who lost their lives in the 2022 Iran protests mainly Dr Sousan Abadian an author and a generative cultural renewal,Dr Ardeshir Badaknia ,a physician, author and artist, Uriel Epshtein (CEO of Renew Democracy initiative), Yasmin Green (CEO of Jigaw ),Patricia Karam (senior policy advisor at Freedom House ),Sheila Katz (CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women ),Navid Mohebbi (a policy director at NUFDI ),Reverent Johonnie Moore (President of the Congress of Christian leaders ),Suzanne Nossel (CEO of PEN America ),Myriam Ovissi (Trustee at Ovissi Foundation),Farah Pandith (First Special representative to Muslim communities at US department of state)and Dr Javaid Rehman (UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran).
The afternoon session involved Film makers who covered the issue of women’s rights violations in Iran but also in the Middle East and South Asia followed by a discussion with the presence of Lisa Daftari (Editor in Chief of The Foreign Desk ) and Marjan Keypour Greenblatt ( Founder and Director of Alliance For Rights of All Minorities ) moderated by Shirin Taber the Founder and Executive Director of Empower Women Media.
Manel Msalmi,the president of the European Association for The Defense of Minorities, expert on Minorities and iran gave the closing remarks of the film festival. She highlighted the fact that there is an ongoing repression of Iranian women in Iran including those of Kurdish,Arab ,Baluch ,Azerbaijanis as well as religious minorities mainly the Bahais .Those women have been facing various forms of discrimination and marginalization including limited access to education, job opportunities and political representation.
The emblematic case of Mahsa Amini, the 22 year old girl Kurdish Iranian woman who died on September 16th 2023 three days after being arrested by the regime’s morality case shocked the world and highlighted a characteristic of the regime mainly ethnic and sexist discrimination. However, for the very first time, we witnessed a solidarity between the different ethnic and religious minorities in Iran after the Iran protests in 2022 and all the different ethnic groups showed solidarity with youth and women in Iran.
The Azerbaijani minority (around a third of the population) suffers from cultural oppression in many fields and women are in the most difficult situation. The Azerbaijani women are suffering in Iran as all the people there and especially as a minority and above it – as women.
The Azerbaijani women in particular were active in the protests. All the opposition groups in Tabriz had united around the Azfront group with highly developed Telegram channel. These were women in Tabriz who put all the opposition together and worked with Azfront media to give voice to women and minorities in Iran. There is an ongoing movement of solidarity and unity which shows that “women ,Life ,Freedom ” is a movement for all Iranians to call for freedom, equality, justice and human rights for all .
Morocco and Libya, two very different catastrophes united by the “unimaginable trauma” of bereaved families, continue to mobilize the UN’s relief efforts, the Organisation’s top aid official Martin Griffiths said on Friday.
He called for solidarity with the people of the two countries and spoke of the tragedy of people looking desperately for their loved ones for days on end.
In Libya, “some have lost 50 or more family members”, he said.
Morocco and Libya: UN scales up support for disaster relief 2
Immediate deployment
Asked whether the UN was “ready” when disaster struck, Mr. Griffiths answered: “unequivocally, yes.”
He told reporters that within 24 hours of the earthquake which shook Morocco’s Atlas Mountain range last Friday, the UN deployed a disaster assessment and coordination (UNDAC) team of 15 people out of Geneva and key staff from the region.
Need for coordination
That team was now being redeployed to Libya with the consent of the Moroccan authorities to support essential coordination of the humanitarian response to the deadly floods.
“If you don’t have coordination, there’s chaos. And that loses lives,” Mr. Griffiths insisted.
Morocco: Second phase
The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator said that in Morocco, the earthquake had claimed nearly 3,000 lives. Although the early figures were “terrible enough”, they are likely to be overtaken by events as rescuers work through the rubble.
He highlighted the country’s “distinguished history” of building up response capacities in recent years.
The UN humanitarian chief stressed that the response in the country was moving from the initial phase, when the focus is on finding survivors and providing for the internment of those killed, to phase two, where supporting the survivors with aid – shelter, food, medicine – becomes the main priority.
In Libya, where the UN already had a humanitarian presence on the ground, a “completely different catastrophe” unfolded, Mr. Griffiths said, that was “appalling, shocking, unimaginable in its consequences”.
There was speculation that some 20,000 people may have lost their lives in the massive flooding triggered by Storm Daniel over the weekend. Access to the city of Derna, the epicentre of the tragedy, remained difficult.
The UN relief chief said that 900,000 people in the country had been affected, “on top of a situation where 300,000 people in Libya already needed humanitarian aid”.
Helping humanitarians do their job
Mr. Griffiths described the challenges on the ground in the response to the disaster in Libya.
Those included coordinating with the internationally recognized Government and the de facto authorities in the east, discovering the “full extent” of the disaster, as floods and torrents have destroyed buildings and sludge was still concealing the “level of death and need”, as well as “getting the right aid to the right people at the right time”.
“That’s why coordination is so important,” he said. “It’s not a bureaucratic issue, it’s a prioritization issue. Helping key humanitarian agencies to do the job they do so well.”
UN News/Daniel Johnson – Martin Griffiths, UN Emergency Releif Coordinator in Geneva, Switzerland.
Urgent appeal
On Thursday, the UN launched a flash appeal for Libya just over $71 million targeting 250,000 people for the next three months.
The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, Georgette Gagnon, was leading the organisation’s response efforts and a coordination hub has been established in Benghazi.
Mr. Griffiths detailed the most urgent needs in Libya: equipment to find people in the sludge and the damaged buildings, shelter, food, clean water and sanitation, as well as key primary medical care, as the threat of cholera looms large.
He said the possibility of opening a maritime route to bring in aid to Derna, as requested by the city’s mayor, made “complete sense”, and stressed the urgency of simultaneously supporting people fleeing to the south, away from the disaster area.
The UN relief chief also underscored the need for psychosocial care, a “huge issue” given the extent of the trauma caused by the disaster.
“Massive reminder” of climate challenges
Mr. Griffiths stressed that in Libya, “climate and capacity have collided to cause this terrible tragedy”.
He called the disasters in both countries a “deeply shocking” and “massive” reminder of climate and its presence around the world.
“We face a really difficult year ahead and government capacities will be stretched to the limit in both these countries,” he said.
VIENNA 15 September 2023 – On the International Day of Democracy, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, underscores the mutually reinforcing nature of democracy, the rule of law, and media freedom. “Advancing and sustaining democratic, resilient, and inclusive societies requires a steadfast commitment to media freedom,” says Teresa Ribeiro.
In the 2023 Joint Declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy, Ribeiro, along with the other global free speech mandate holders, emphasizes the media’s pivotal role in delivering trustworthy news and fostering informed public discourse. This, in turn, cultivates a well-informed and active citizenry. “The media serve as vigilant watchdogs, holding those in power accountable through thorough investigations and reporting on matters of public interest. By doing this, they play an integral role in bolstering democratic processes and institutions,” Ribeiro asserts.
“Conversely, a decline in media freedom undermines both democratic safeguards and the protection of human rights. Over the past decade, we have undeniably witnessed this interconnection, which has been a contributing factor in the emergence of conflicts.” This year’s International Day of Democracy, focused on conflict prevention, underscores the urgent need to nurture human rights and democratic values as a means to mitigate and resolve the risks of conflict.
“Access to reliable, diverse, and public-interest information is essential at all times. By verifying information, empowering individuals, and fostering reconciliation, pluralistic and independent media serve a foundational role in upholding democratic principles and preventing conflict,” Ribeiro says. “The weaponization of information by autocratic forces for spreading hate speech and propaganda, especially propaganda for war, has no place in democracy. On the contrary, independent quality media are needed to counter the deeply disturbing trends of authoritarianism, co-optation of public power, and backsliding on human rights.”
“On this Democracy Day, I urge all States to renew their commitment to fostering an environment conducive to media freedom, recognizing it as a key pillar for both conflict prevention and the global advancement of democracy,” says Ribeiro.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.
Twenty-two-year-old Jina Mahsa Amini was arrested and forced into a van by Iran’s so called “morality police” in the capital Tehran on 13 September last year. Authorities alleged she was not in conformity with the country’s strict laws on mandatory veiling.
She died on 16 September reportedly after suffering a heart attack. Her family, however, denied she had any heart issues and alleged she was tortured.
“Jina Mahsa should never have been arrested in the first place,” said Sara Hossain, Chair of the Human Rights Council-appointed mission, adding that since then, the Government has “failed to ensure truth, justice and reparations to her family, or to families of other victims, women, girls and all protesters who have been subjected to violations of fundamental human rights.”
“Instead, the Islamic Republic is doubling down on repression and reprisals against its citizens and seeking to introduce new and more draconian laws that severely restrict further the rights of women and girls.”
Family intimated
The independent panel also reported that Mahsa Amini’s father and uncle were arrested around 10 days ago by security forces in their hometown Saqqez, and their whereabouts “remain unknown”.
Her grave was also reportedly desecrated, and family members prevented from mourning. The family’s lawyer and journalists covering her case have also been harassed.
Groundswell of protests
Ms. Amini’s death sparked a wave of protests throughout the country.
The fact-finding team also said it is now investigating allegations that the State responded to the protests with unnecessary and disproportionate force, arbitrary arrests and detentions, unfair trials, extra-judicial executions and harassment of family members of victims.
Such acts “continue until today”, it added.
Authorities are exacerbating punitive measures against those exercising their fundamental rights, including freedom of religion, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, according to the independent panel.
Increased risks for women
The Fact-Finding Mission also said that a draft bill, currently under consideration by the Parliament – if passed – would expose women and girls to increased risks of violence, harassment and arbitrary detention.
The legislation proposes increased fines and prison terms for women and girls found in breach of mandatory veiling provisions, as well as harsher punishments including travel bans, the denial of education and medical care and sanctions against businesses.
Call for cooperation
The Fact-Finding Mission called on the Government to fully cooperate with its investigations and ensure that all those affected have unhindered and safe access to providing evidence, including referral of their cases.
The Government has until now not responded to repeated requests for information, the independent body added, noting that it will present a comprehensive report on its findings to the Human Rights Council during an interactive dialogue at its 55th session in March 2024.
The Fact-Finding Mission
The Fact-Finding Mission was mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate alleged human rights violations in Iran related to the protests that began there on 16 September 2022, especially with respect to women and children.
The panel is composed of independent members Sara Hossain of Bangladesh (Chair), Shaheen Sardar Ali of Pakistan and Viviana Krsticevic of Argentina.
They are not UN staff members and serve in an independent capacity.
Addressing the Security Council on Thursday, the head of the World Food Programme (WFP), Cindy McCain, highlighted the growing need for humanitarian aid worldwide against a backdrop of reduced funding.
She called for innovative public-private sector partnerships to respond to tomorrow’s crises.
“I come from the private sector myself,” said WFP‘s Executive Director, at the start of a debate on the role of partnerships in humanitarian aid, initiated by Albania, which holds the Council’s rotating presidency for September.
“Thriving businesses and flourishing economies are the critical engines that will power global efforts to eradicate hunger and poverty, and strengthen international peace and security”, said Ms. McCain.
The widow of former Senator and presidential candidate John McCain, she has been an active philanthropist for many years, and heir to one of the largest privately held companies in her home state of Arizona.
“Sadly, today the humanitarian sector is one of the world’s biggest growth industries,” the WFP chief said.
“War, economic turmoil, and increasingly, climate change and environmental degradation – are driving millions of people into poverty and despair each year.”
Recalling that nearly 783 million people live in deep food insecurity, and 47 million of them in 50 countries, are on the brink of famine – while 45 million children under five suffer from acute malnutrition – Ms. McCain was pessimistic about the humanitarian crises ahead.
No respite
“I wish I could tell Council members that the surging hunger seen in many parts of the world stems from one-off causes and will reduce as circumstances change”, she said.
“But it won’t. We are now living with a series of concurrent and long-term crises that will continue to fuel humanitarian needs. And this is happening just as funding for humanitarian relief operations is drying up.”
She said even WFP had to make “the agonizing choice to cut food rations for millions”.
“This is our new normal,” she added, “and we will be dealing with the fallout in the years to come.”
‘New models’
Rather than resign herself to “powerlessness” the WFP chief called for greater use of the private sector, which has over 200 years helped reduce global poverty through the power of private enterprise.
She said the time has come, in the face of the new realities and budget cuts, to “rethink how we engage and find new models” of partnership.
The WFP chief said a new and more effective collaboration would be of benefit to all.
“Reducing poverty and hunger is a necessary precondition for healthy workforces, functioning markets, and sustainable economic growth and prosperity. When people and communities thrive, so do businesses.”
UN humanitarians are working flat out on the ground in Libya, providing desperately needed aid to thousands of survivors of the flood disaster that has left thousands dead and thousands more unaccounted for.
Last March, an article entitled “The dirty secrets of a Smear campaign” appeared in the well-known American media outlet The New Yorker, providing a little more insight into Abu Dhabi’s all-out strategy for eliminating its enemies. In it, David D. Kirkpatrick reveals how a Swiss company, Alp Services, run by the famous Mario Brero, who is well known in Geneva, worked for Mohamed Ben Zayed in order to harm Qatar and anyone else who attacked the Emirates. Among the ideological tools used to do this was the dissemination of fake news and preconceived ideas designed to harm Doha: in particular, accusing Qatar of supporting radical Islam, and in particular the Muslim Brotherhood, which, with the support of the small Emirate, is seeking to gain a foothold throughout Europe.
For several years now, a war of influence has been waged between Qatar, the Emirates and Saudi Arabia on the Old Continent. France is a prime target: the hexagon is a privileged political, economic, military and energy partner. Influence is exerted through the media. For example, with the support of Alp Services, Mohamed Ben Zayed has been doing everything in his power for years to influence newspapers and defend his political agenda in French editorial columns. False accounts, crooked journalists, tainted media, hundreds of articles have been published to defend a vision, Abu Dhabi’s vision of the Middle East and above all against Qatar, its main competitor for wealth.
According to the American media outlet The New Yorker, the Africa Intelligence website is a perfect example. It was indeed in the service of Alp Services. In addition to the espionage, tracking and burglaries set up by the company, the distribution of false information in media of convenience was part of the deal. Brero was to publish around a hundred articles a year in the media in favour of the Emirates. But beyond Africa Intelligence, other sites were targeted: for example, a certain Tany Klein maintained a false account on Mediapart and published articles in this vein. Africa Intelligence describes itself on its website as “the daily newspaper of the continent”. The site is part of the Indigo group, just like La Lettre A and Intelligence online. All the events are taking place in 2019, as is this operation: the Gulf crisis is in full swing in 2019, pitting Saudi Arabia and the Emirates against Qatar.
Alp Services finally produced a file containing several lists of French and Belgian nationals who, according to them, were reputed to be working for Qatar or to be members of the Muslim Brotherhood, or in any case to be fervent detractors of the Emirati confederation. At the beginning of July, a vast European consortium (European Investigative Collaboration) published several articles explaining the workings of Mario Bréro’s operation: 160 Belgians had been “handed over to the Emirati secret services”. Among them were researchers (Michaël Privot, Sébastien Boussois), representatives of associations (Fatimah Zibouh), and even ministers, such as the Belgian green minister Zakia Kattabi, who was not only accused of being close to the Muslim Brotherhood and Qatar but also denounced as a Shiite! Many of them have lodged complaints of slander and invasion of privacy. For the moment, all the spotlight is on Mario Brero and Alp Services, but the methods are not very elegant and are already being traced back to the Al Ariaf centre, which is allegedly being used as a cover by the Emirati government and in particular a certain ‘Matar’, the Emirati agent in charge of steering Alp Services’ operations in Europe.
There is talk of nearly 160 people in Belgium being put on file, but 200 in France and no fewer than 1,000 people in all in Europe considered to be enemies of Abu Dhabi.
