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Afghanistan: Human rights ‘in a state of collapse’, warns Türk

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Afghanistan: Human rights ‘in a state of collapse’, warns Türk

“Human rights in Afghanistan are in a state of collapse,” he told the Human Rights Council, before sounding the alarm over ongoing reports of extrajudicial killings, torture and ill-treatment and arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as serious violations against former Government officials, as documented in a new human rights office (OHCHRreport.

“Compounding all of this is a deeply troubling lack of accountability for perpetrators of human rights violations,” he said.

Women cancelled out

Highlighting the “devastating precedent” set by Afghanistan as the only country in the world where women and girls are denied access to secondary and higher education. Mr. Türk underscored the “long list of misogynistic restrictions” confining the country’s women “to the four walls of their homes”, before asking: “What can possibly come next?”

The High Commissioner insisted that any prospect of a stable, prosperous Afghanistan rests on the participation of men and women.

“Denying women and girls’ rights to participate in daily and public life not only denies them their human rights, it denies Afghanistan the benefit of the contributions they have to offer,” he said.

Constitution on hold

Mr. Türk said that the suspension of the Afghan constitution and of laws protecting women from violence or guaranteeing media freedom, as well as the dissolution of the country’s Independent Human Rights Commission, were elements of the “systematic erosion of the institutions that once provided some protection for human rights”. 

The High Commissioner called on the de facto authorities to “change course” and bring Afghanistan back to the international fold with full respect for its international human rights obligations.

He insisted that the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) will continue to monitor and report on the situation, as well as “raise individual cases and urge compliance with international law by the de facto authorities” to the greatest extent possible.

Mr. Türk paid tribute to the work of his human rights colleagues on the ground, especially Afghan female staff.

He also exhorted the international community not to “turn its back on Afghanistan” at a time when rights were being eroded and two-thirds of the population were in need of aid, while humanitarian operations were hindered by the ban on women working for the UN and NGOs.

‘Feeling betrayed’

Mr. Türk’s comments came a day after the Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, delivered a sombre update to the Council.

Many Afghans living abroad “say they feel ‘betrayed’ by the international community”, the Special Rapporteur explained. They are calling for concrete action and some have even started a hunger strike “calling for recognition of gender apartheid”.

In June, Mr. Bennett had said that since systematic and institutionalised discrimination against women and girls was at the heart of Taliban ideology and rule, Afghanistan’s de facto authorities “may be responsible for gender apartheid” which, although “not yet an explicit international crime”, required “further study”.

Repression of minorities

Mr. Bennett also briefed the Council on Monday on the “collapse of civic space” and “absence of rule of law” since the Taliban takeover, the long-term impacts on children’s development and mental health, and the repression and lack of representation of minorities such as Tajiks, Hazaras, Uzbeks and Turkmen.

“I’m concerned about the effect [that the] strong sense of discrimination and exclusion held by large parts of the population may have on the stability of Afghanistan,” he said.

Special Rapporteurs are not UN staff and are independent from any government or organisation. They serve in their individual capacity and receive no salary for their work.

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Sri Lanka urged to conduct probe into 2019 attack

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Sri Lanka urged to conduct probe into 2019 attack

Addressing the forum in Geneva, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada-Al Nashif also urged the Sri Lankan authorities to accelerate investigations and prosecutions probing cases of human rights violations, in particular, the 2019 Easter Sunday bombings.

Ms. Al-Nashif noted that investigations should comply with international human rights standards. Her comments follow repeated calls to the Government of Sri Lanka to establish an independent probe into the bombing campaign that left 269 people dead and additional 500 injured.

Socio-economic strife

Although the Government has implemented economic recovery policies, the country continues to be gripped by the aftermath of the deep economic crisis of 2022 and stresses in the global economy, the UN deputy rights chief said.

The legacy of that crisis “has impacted the poor and marginalized communities the most”, Ms. Al-Nashif explained, noting that another 2.5 million people had been driven into poverty between 2021 and 2022, while an estimated 37 per cent of households face acute food insecurity.

The Deputy High Commissioner emphasised that such hardship has given rise to tensions and further protests. These have also been sparked by issues of land acquisition in the north and east of the country for the expansion of military installations.

Tensions continue

The UN human rights body also heard that delays in holding local government elections combined with the laws that limit people’s right to political participation and protest had also increased tensions.

“Our Office continues to receive cases of misuse of tear gas and water cannons during demonstrations, affecting protestors and media personnel,” Ms. Al-Nashif said.

While recognizing the Government’s proposal for a new truth-seeking mechanism as part of efforts to promote reconciliation across Sri Lanka in the aftermath of a brutal civil war, she emphasised that more needed to be done.

“Fourteen years since the war ended, tens of thousands of victims and their families continue to suffer in agony and grief as they wait for truth, justice, and remedy, said Ms. Al-Nashif.

“Truth seeking alone is not sufficient and must be accompanied by clear commitment to accountability.”

‘Unproductive and unhelpful’: Sri Lanka responds

Sri Lanka rejected the OHCHR findings, its conclusions and recommendations relating to the two resolutions under which the UN rights office is mandated to investigate and report on the country. 

In a statement, Sri Lanka said the report was an “unproductive and unhelpful drain” on resources, which did not reflect the situation on the ground, claiming that OHCHR had ignored the nation’s “democratic resilience”.

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War crimes intensifying: Myanmar human rights investigators

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War crimes intensifying: Myanmar human rights investigators

“The frequency and intensity of war crimes and crimes against humanity has only increased in recent months,” said Nicholas Koumjian, head of the investigation team, formally known as the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM).

‘Brazen bombings’

Addressing the forum in Geneva, he described even “more brazen aerial bombings and indiscriminate shelling, resulting in the deaths of innocent civilians including children. We have also seen increased executions of captured combatants and civilians and intentional burnings of homes and villages.”

Listing a series of further violations including torture, sexual violence and arrests, Mr.Koumjian highlighted the lack of due process and accountability for war crimes, particularly within the Myanmar military.

The development follows an appeal from UN Secretary-General António Guterres to Myanmar’s military rulers who seized power in a coup on 1 February 2021 to “listen to the aspirations of its people, release all political prisoners, and open the door to a return to democratic rule”.

Evidence and information 

“We continue to face the challenge of not having access to Myanmar. Our repeated requests for information and access have been ignored by the military authorities,” Mr. Koumjian told the Human Rights Council.

Delegations including the European Union, Finland, Canada and Costa Rica condemned the violence, while numerous other countries urged the military junta to allow the IIMM access to the country.

Among the Council’s 47 Member States, China, Iran and Russia underscored the principle of national sovereignty regarding external intervention.

Despite a lack of physical access to Myanmar, the head of the investigation team highlighted the unprecedented and unanticipated level of information that had been collated – facilitated by witnesses as well as modern technology.

“None of our work would be possible without the courage and commitment of the many individuals and organizations that provide us with information,” Mr. Koumjian said.

We understand this Council did not create our Mechanism to simply place evidence in storage,” he continued, emphasising that the evidence has been shared with the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC) and in Argentina where international criminal proceedings are ongoing, surrounding crimes against the Rohingya. 

Persecuted minority

The Mechanism continues to actively investigate the violence that led to the large-scale displacement of the Rohingya from Myanmar in 2016 and 2017.

“We have collected compelling evidence of the widespread burning of Rohingya villages and the assaults and killings of civilians. I have been particularly horrified by the numerous accounts of sexual crimes that we have collected,” Mr. Koumjian told the Council.

Just last month, UN human rights chief Volker Türk marked the sixth anniversary of the start of a massive offensive by Myanmar’s military against the mainly Muslim minority in Rakhine state, reiterating the call for justice after hundreds of thousands of Rohingya were driven from their homes by security forces.

Some 10,000 Rohingya men, women, children and newborns are believed to have been killed, with more than 300 villages burnt to the ground and over 700,000 forced to flee to Bangladesh in search of safety, joining tens of thousands who fled earlier persecutions.

On Monday at the Council, countries including Bangladesh echoed Mr. Türk’s earlier call for a sustainable return for the Rohingya to their homeland.

“The Myanmar people are suffering deeply from the effects of these ongoing horrific crimes,” Mr. Koumjian said. “I would like them to know that the Mechanism is committed to pursuing justice for them and focusing all our efforts to ensure that the perpetrators will one day be held to account.”

The investigators

The Myanmar investigation team was created by the UN Human Rights Council in 2018 and became operational in August the following year.

Its mandate is to collect evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law and prepare files for criminal prosecution, making use of the information handed over to it by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar.

The Mechanism is composed of impartial and experienced professional and administrative personnel. It does not have its own police force nor its own prosecutors or judges. 

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FAO launches emergency plan to combat hunger in Sudan

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FAO launches emergency plan to combat hunger in Sudan


The UN food security agency on Monday launched an emergency response plan to provide essential support to communities in Sudan grappling with the devastating effects of the ongoing conflict.

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The culinary specialties of Antwerp: a taste journey in Belgium

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The culinary specialties of Antwerp: a taste journey in Belgium

When we think of Belgium, we often think of the famous waffles, crispy fries and tasty beer. However, the city of Antwerp offers much more than that in terms of culinary specialties. This port city located in the Flemish region is renowned for its rich and diverse gastronomy, mixing local traditions and international influences. In this article we will take you on a taste journey through the culinary specialties of Antwerp.

Let’s start with the emblematic dish of Antwerp: waterzooi. It is a stew made with chicken or fish, accompanied by fresh vegetables and potatoes. The creamy, smooth sauce is made with vegetable or fish stock, cream and eggs. This delicious and comforting dish is typical of Flemish cuisine and is often served with bread for dipping. You can’t visit Antwerp without tasting this traditional dish.

Next, let’s talk about stoemp, a comforting dish made with potatoes and vegetables. Potatoes are mashed and mixed with vegetables such as carrots, spinach or leeks. This simple but tasty dish is often accompanied by smoked sausages or meatballs. Stoemp is a staple of Belgian cuisine and is very popular with the people of Antwerp.

Now let’s move on to seafood, an essential specialty of Antwerp thanks to its proximity to the North Sea. Gray shrimp are particularly popular in the region. These small shrimp are cooked in a mixture of butter and parsley, then served with fresh bread. Their delicate taste and melting texture make gray shrimp a real treat for the taste buds. Mussels are also very popular in Antwerp, prepared in different ways: with beer, garlic or cream. You will find many restaurants specializing in seafood in Antwerp, where you can taste these marine delicacies.

When it comes to sweets, Antwerp does not disappoint. Belgian pralines are world famous and Antwerp chocolatiers are renowned for their know-how. Pralines are chocolate candies filled with different flavors: ganache, praline, caramel, dried fruits, etc. Antwerp chocolatiers are artists in the art of creating these little treats. They use high quality ingredients and are constantly looking for new flavors and textures to surprise the taste buds of chocolate lovers.

Speaking of sweets, it’s impossible to miss waffles. Belgian waffles are famous all over the world and Antwerp is no exception. These thick, crispy waffles are often served with whipped cream, fresh fruit or melted chocolate. They are a real temptation for gourmands and are an integral part of Antwerp’s culinary culture.

Finally, how can we talk about Belgian cuisine without mentioning beer? Antwerp is home to many breweries and cafes where you can taste a wide selection of Belgian beers. From light lagers to fuller-bodied dark beers, there is something for everyone. Trappist beers, brewed by monks in abbeys, are particularly appreciated by connoisseurs. The warm and friendly atmosphere of Belgian cafés is ideal for enjoying a good beer and discovering the different flavors and aromas that Belgium offers.

In conclusion, the culinary specialties of Antwerp offer a real taste journey in Belgium. From waterzooi to stoemp, from shrimp to pralines, including waffles and beer, there is something to satisfy all palates. Whether you are a fan of traditional dishes or sweet treats, Antwerp is a culinary paradise that will satisfy your taste buds. So, indulge in a gastronomic getaway to this Flemish city and discover the culinary treasures it has to offer.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

Opening: 11-14 September plenary session | News

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Opening: 11-14 September plenary session | News

One year after murder of Mahsa Amini in Iran

Parliament proudly stands with the brave, defiant women and men who continue to fight for equality, dignity and freedom in Iran, with 16 September marking one year since the murder of Mahsa Amini, President Metsola said. Reiterating Parliament’s strongest condemnation of the Iranian regime for taking EU and dual nationals hostage, President Metsola called for the immediate release of EU official Johan Floderus and professor Ahmad Reza Jalali. In a plenary debate tomorrow, Parliament will remember and honour the legacy of Mahsa Amini and all those who have paid the ultimate price for liberty, she concluded.

Extreme weather in Europe

Dangerous weather conditions have affected huge parts of Europe, said the President, with major wildfires and floods having a severe impact on member states such as Spain, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Italy. Greece has been particularly devastated by the floods and wild fires and the EU has already provided crucial assistance and will continue to do whatever is necessary, she added. The President announced that she will welcome Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday to reiterate the EU’s solidarity to Greece and to discuss EU assistance. “Our hearts go out to all those who have had their lives and livelihoods destroyed over this summer; the EU institutions will keep supporting those countries that need it”, she concluded.

Earthquake in Morocco

Following the terrible earthquake in Morocco where thousands were killed and injured, President Metsola expressed solidarity with the people of Morocco and said that Europe stands ready to provide assistance.

Death of Véronique Trillet-Lenoir

President Metsola expressed her condolences to the family of MEP Véronique Trillet-Lenoir who died in August. A medical doctor, teacher and MEP, she was known for her devotion to the health of Europeans and contributed to establishing the foundations of the European Health Union.

President Metsola led MEPs in a minute of silence to remember Véronique Trillet-Lenoir and all those who lost their lives this summer.

Changes to the agenda

Tuesday

A report on the Draft European Council decision establishing the composition of the European Parliament is added as the first point in the morning. The debate will be followed by a round of political group speakers. As a consequence, the sitting will start at 08:30.

A High Representative statement on 50 years since the murder of Allende and the Coup in Chile: democracy and sovereignty (no resolution), followed by a round of political group speakers, is added as forth point in the afternoon, after the VPC/HR statement on EU-CELAC.

Request by several committees to start negotiations with Council and Commission

Decisions by committees to enter into inter-institutional negotiations (Rule 71) are published on the plenary website.

If no request for a vote in Parliament on the decision to enter into negotiations is made by Tuesday 12.00 midnight, the committees may start negotiations.

Information concerning the distribution of votes is available under the section “Priority information”.

Outgoing MEPs

Peter van Dalen (EPP, Netherlands) as of 3 September 2023

Esteban González Pons (EPP, Spain) as of 16 August 2023

Adriana Maldonado López (S&D, Spain) as of 16 August 2023

Véronique Trillet-Lenoir (Renew, France) as of 9 August 2023

Incoming MEPs

Laura Ballarín Cereza (S&D, Spain) as of 6 September 2023

Ana Collado Jiménez (EPP, Spain) as of 6 September 2023

Anja Haga (NI, Netherlands) as of 5 September 2023

Catherine Almaric (Renew, France) as of 10 August 2023

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Türk blasts ‘politics of repression and division’, stresses freedom and development link

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Türk blasts ‘politics of repression and division’, stresses freedom and development link

Addressing the opening of the Council’s 54th session, Mr. Türk strongly condemned the “old, blunt, brutal politics of repression” as exemplified by a rise in military coups and the crushing of dissent – “in short, the fist”. 

Following military takeovers in Niger and Gabon, he insisted that the “unconstitutional changes in government” such as the ones seen recently in the Sahel are “not the solution”. 

“We need instead an urgent reversal to civilian governance, and open spaces where people can participate, influence, accompany and criticise government actions – or lack of action,” he said. 

Interlinked rights and development challenges

Mr. Türk said that the challenges faced by countries in the Sahel, which leave their populations “struggling for daily survival”, are interlinked.

The devastating impacts of climate change, lack of investment in essential services and weak governance “are the sources that violent extremism draws from”, he warned. 

He also sounded the alarm over mass-produced “lies and disinformation” aided by new technologies and emphasized that “people everywhere want – and have the right to… objective information, not propaganda.”

‘Leave no one behind’

The UN rights chief underscored that over his years of service with the UN it had become clear to him that development issues “underlie almost every challenge we face”. 

Leaving no-one behind is not an empty slogan. It is a human rights action plan that reaches across the whole spectrum of human rights”, he said.

He deplored the fact that the world was “betraying [its] promise” to end hunger and poverty by 2030. 

‘Collective human rights failure’

Some 600 million people are projected to be chronically undernourished at the end of the decade according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) despite the massive financial and technological resources at our disposal, Mr. Türk said. 

He also stressed that 1.2 billion people, nearly half of them children, now live in “acute multidimensional poverty” and risk being joined by millions more as a result of climate change,  as projected by the World Bank

“This is a terrible collective human rights failure,” he stated. 

Fight against inequalities

The High Commissioner detailed steps to address the “abyss between rich and poor” and the inequalities preventing humanity from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

He spoke about the need for a reform of the international financial architecture offering “fairer deals on debt relief”, urgent funding for developing countries in the form of an SDG Stimulus, a push towards international tax cooperation and a reinvigorated global fight against corruption and illicit financial flows.

Environmental accountability

Mr. Türk also called for “effectively financed human rights-based climate action” to help developing countries adapt to the effects of climate change, to which they contributed so little, and offset the damage done.  

He stressed the need for a “rapid, equitable phase-out of fossil fuels” and welcomed the consideration of measures to ensure “accountability for environmental damage”, such as the proposed inclusion of the international crime of “ecocide” in the Rome Statute of the UN-backed International Criminal Court.

‘Politics of indifference’

In his address the UN rights chief highlighted a wide range of human rights crises around the world. He said that he was shocked by the “nonchalance” and the “politics of indifference” in the face of more than 2,300 people reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean this year, “including the loss of more than 600 lives in a single shipwreck off Greece in June”. 

He strongly condemned the fact that many more migrants and refugees were dying “unnoticed” in Europe, in the Bay of Bengal, on the border between the United States and Mexico and beyond. 

Russia’s warfare in Ukraine ‘horrific’

Mr. Türk also spoke about Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the “horrific warfare” which has ravaged the country. 

“The Russian Federation’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July, and attacks on grain facilities in Odesa and elsewhere, have again forced prices sky-high in many developing countries – taking the right to food far out of reach for many people,” he said.

He reiterated his “deep concerns” regarding restrictions on fundamental rights in Russia and “particularly severe oppression” of the anti-war movement and human rights activists, as exemplified by the harsh prison sentences handed down to opponents Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Kara-Murza.

Palestine and Iran

The High Commissioner expressed his “profound shock” at the escalating violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as well as concern over the “continuing civic space restrictions” by the Palestinian Authorities and de facto authorities in Gaza. 

He also deplored the “inadequate” accountability for the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran one year on and reiterated his concerns over restriction on the rights of women and girls, as well as the renewed deployment of the morality police, a force “almost exclusively aimed” at controlling them.

‘Repugnant’ Quran burnings

The “fabrication of artificial disputes over gender” was part of what Mr. Türk called “the politics of division and distraction”. In this context he brought up the “repugnant” series of some 30 recent incidents of burning the Quran to “create divisions, both within societies, and between countries”.

He announced that he would discuss this topic in detail on 6 October, as mandated by a resolution adopted during an urgent debate at the Council’s previous session.

Minute of silence

Monday’s meeting opened with a minute of silence honouring the victims of the devastating earthquake in Morocco on 8 September, which has so far claimed at least 2,100 lives. 

The Vice-President of the Council, Permanent Representative of the Gambia to the UN in Geneva Muhammadou M.O. Kah, urged solidarity with the victims, stressing to delegations present that they were “not just representatives of nations or organisations” but “part of a global community, humanity”. Morocco’s ambassador Omar Zniber thanked delegates for the gesture and the Geneva-based organisations for their support.

Marathon session

The Human Rights Council’s 54th session will run until 13 October at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. During the marathon five-week session, the Council will focus on the human rights situations in Afghanistan, Belarus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Ukraine among others. 

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First Person: Family death ‘turning point’ in South Sudanese humanitarian’s life

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First Person: Family death ‘turning point’ in South Sudanese humanitarian’s life

She is currently deployed with the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, to the north of her country, supporting refugees who are fleeing conflict in Sudan.

She has been speaking to UN News ahead of World Humanitarian Day  which is commemorated annually on 19 August.

“Saving lives became a passion of mine when I was 15. One of my cousins was staying with us for the holidays. We were so close that she would come directly to my place after boarding school, instead of her parents. We did everything together. 

Joyce Asha Laku, joined OCHA in 2013 as a National Field Officer in South Sudan.

One morning, it was time for her to go back to school and I accompanied her to her bus stop. Little did I know that this would be the last time I would see her. At about 4am, news got to us that the bus had been in a terrible accident. It fell off a bridge, killing 21 passengers, including my cousin. 

So many mothers
and fathers cried
around me, and yet,
I couldn’t shed a tear.

I immediately went to the police station to enquire about her – at that time I didn’t know she was one of the victims. Information was reaching families very late as many had to reach the police station by bike, and it was a long ride.

They clearly needed help with the rescue, and I volunteered. There weren’t enough ambulances, so we were fishing bodies out of the water and piling them on the shore. I don’t know how I kept my composure, but I did.

At the hospital, so many families anxiously waited for answers. So many mothers and fathers cried around me, and yet, I couldn’t shed a tear. 

It was only when I stepped away from all this chaos and went back home that I felt the weight of my own emotions. This is the moment I realized that I wanted to become a humanitarian worker and dedicate my life to helping others and saving lives; a moment of incredible pain became a turning point in my life.

South Sudan violence

In 2016, I was working in South Sudan when violence broke out following the collapse of the peace agreement that put an end to the civil war. All humanitarians involved in the response were suddenly told to evacuate, however, the military wouldn’t let us go through and were blocking the roads. They were shooting at those trying to flee, including us. 

I don’t know where I got the courage to stay calm. I did my best not to panic, I stood strong and demanded answers from the authorities. All I could think of is that we had a responsibility towards the community, and we simply couldn’t let them down.

Sudan crisis

The current crisis in Sudan, our northern neighbour, is now worse than ever. I was deployed to Renk, a town in South Sudan, to monitor and report on the humanitarian situation. 

© UNOCHA/Iramaku Vundru Wilfred – The rainy season has made life challenging in the camp in Renk.

People fleeing Sudan face numerous challenges while on the move. Thousands of tired, dehydrated, and sick people continue to register at the point of entry each day. Many of them have experienced brutality, exploitation, extortion, and looting. 

Women and children are often victims of sexual violence, and children are more vulnerable than ever with many out of school, scared, and hungry. 

While at the border point, I saw a woman, her two children, and her brother-in-law arrive exhausted. The woman’s husband was shot and died in front of them. They buried the body and ran away. 

On their way towards safety, the car they were in was involved in an accident. Several people died and many more were injured, including her nine-year-old son whose leg got fractured.

She told me they couldn’t let that stop them, so they continued their way to the border using a donkey cart. 

People living in a temporary camp in Renk collect water.
© UNOCHA/Iramaku Vundru Wilfred- People living in a temporary camp in Renk collect water.

As they got to the border, her two-year-old child passed away as health personnel watched on helplessly. Eventually she was rushed to the nearest health facility in Renk with her nine-year-old, while her brother-in-law remained behind at the border to bury her baby. 

I am a mother myself; I can only imagine the pain she went through. She wasn’t even able to bury her own child.

Infrastructure challenges

One of the main issues we are facing is poor infrastructure. The transportation of returnees has become a huge problem. The runways are not made to accommodate large aircraft, meaning only small planes can land. When it rains heavily, flights are canceled or remain stuck on the ground. 

To ease the congestion in Renk, the Government and the International Organization of Migration (IOM) is transporting returnees to Malakal by boat, which takes over two days.

Passengers get to their destination exhausted, dehydrated, and often sick, and health workers are overwhelmed by the huge number of patients. 

Passion and dignity

To my fellow national colleagues who aspire for more, I say this: we shouldn’t lose hope. Let us continue to push for opportunities and let’s make sure we do things the right way – with passion and dignity – as we continue to serve our countries. 

The most important thing to me is love for our people, for the humanity we serve, and for what we do.” 

23 Spanish-speaking Jewish communities worldwide demand the deletion of a derogatory definition

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All representative institutions of the Spanish-speaking Jewish communities support the initiative. The removal of the definition of “Jew” as “avaricious or usurious person” is requested, as well as the definition of “judiada” as “a dirty trick.”

Madrid, September 6, 2023. More than 20 Jewish communities worldwide have formally
requested the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) to eliminate the definition of “Jew” as
“avaricious or usurious person.” They consider it an offensive definition that portrays a
community in derogatory and discriminatory terms, not reflecting the current usage of the
Spanish language in the Spanish-speaking community, where respect and the promotion
of diversity and multiculturalism are paramount.

The European Times wrote today to the Real Academia de la Lengua Española, who responded that:

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== 23 Spanish-speaking Jewish communities worldwide demand the deletion of a derogatory definition
23 Spanish-speaking Jewish communities worldwide demand the deletion of a derogatory definition 6

“the mentioned request has been received and will be processed following the usual procedures for its study [la solicitud que menciona ha sido recibida y se tramitará siguiendo los cauces habituales para su estudio]”.

Real Academia de la Lengua Española

Inappropriately Defining “Jew” as an Insult

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== 23 Spanish-speaking Jewish communities worldwide demand the deletion of a derogatory definition

“Dictionaries have the task of reflecting language use and evolution, and their content is based on linguistic and academic criteria. In a context where Spanish and Ibero-American society is increasingly sensitive to diverse identities, and disrespect in defining groups is widely rejected, we believe that these definitions should be updated to accurately reflect the language’s usage in our times,” says lawyer Borja Luján Lago, who is representing the Jewish community in this initiative.

The initiative, promoted by the Jewish Community of Panama, has the support of the  entire Spanish-speaking Jewish community, represented by its representative organizations:

the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain, the Delegation of Israeli Associations in Argentina, the Israeli Circle of Bolivia, the Jewish Community of Chile, the Sephardic Hebrew Community of Bogotá, the Zionist Israeli Center of Costa Rica, the Board of the House of the Hebrew Community of Cuba, the Jewish Community of Ecuador, the Israeli Community of El Salvador, the Jewish Community of Guatemala, the Hebrew Community of Tegucigalpa, the Central Committee of the Jewish Community of Mexico, the Israeli Community of Nicaragua, the Jewish Community of Paraguay, the Jewish Association of Peru, the Israeli Center of the Dominican Republic, the Central Israeli Committee of Uruguay, and the Confederation of Israeli Associations of Venezuela, as well as non-governmental organizations such as the American Jewish Committee (AJC), B’nai B’rith International (BBI), the Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), the Latin American Jewish Congress (CJL), and the AntiDefamation League (ADL).

The document submitted to the RAE’s registry also requests, for the same reasons, the complete removal of the entry “Judiada,” which is defined as “a dirty trick or action that harms someone.”

“We understand that dictionary definitions reflect language usage and do not inherently promote hate, but they should be corrected as they are entirely outdated in the social and cultural reality of the 21st century. We appeal to the sensitivity of the RAE to promote a respectful and inclusive language,” says Luján Lago.

In 2001 this derogatory definition was not in the dictionary.

ywAAAAAAQABAAACAUwAOw== 23 Spanish-speaking Jewish communities worldwide demand the deletion of a derogatory definition
23 Spanish-speaking Jewish communities worldwide demand the deletion of a derogatory definition 7

What is the Royal Academy of Spanish Language?

The primary location of the Real Academia de la Lengua Española is in Spain, where it holds the responsibility of regulating the language within the country. However, its impact goes beyond Spain as it is acknowledged as the language authority, for all Spanish-speaking nations. There are a total of 23 countries where Spanish is recognized as the official language and these countries are all considered part of the Spanish-speaking community. Therefore while the Real Academia de la Lengua Española is based in Spain, its influence and authority encompass all Spanish-speaking nations.

Five Russian Jehovah’s Witnesses sentenced to 30 years in prison in all

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As of 18 August 2023, a total of 116 Witnesses were in prison in Russia for practicing their faith in private.

In April 2017, the Russian Supreme Court ruled the activity of the “Administrative Center of Jehovah’s Witnesses” to be extremist and it ordered that the center and all its regional divisions must be liquidated. It ordered that the organization’s property be confiscated in the state’s favor.

Four believers received more than 6 years in a penal colony each on a second appeal

On 5 September, the Amur Regional Court upheld the prison terms of four Jehovah’s Witnesses for meetings with fellow believers. Vladimir Bukin, Valeriy Slashchev and Sergey Yuferov will have to serve a sentence of six years and four months in prison, and Mikhail Burkov – six years and two months. The verdict has entered into force. 

Sergey Yuferov, Mikhail Burkov, Vladimir Bukin and Valery Slashchev.(Credit: Jehovah’s Witnesses Russia)
Sergey Yuferov, Mikhail Burkov, Vladimir Bukin and Valery Slashchev.(Credit: Jehovah’s Witnesses Russia)

Back in October 2022, the Tyndinskiy District Court sentenced the believers to various terms of imprisonment ranging from six years and two months to six years and six months. However, an appeal overturned this decision, and the men were released from the pre-trial detention center, where they had spent two months each. The retrial of the case was completed in June 2023. Judge Valentina Brikova issued a verdict that differed slightly from the first one – from six years and two months to six years and four months in prison. 

In their appeals, the believers noted that “the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation did not ban the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses and did not assess the legitimacy of the religious beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the ways in which they were expressed.”

According to the convicts, it follows that “despite the liquidation of legal entities, [they] still have the right to freely practice the religion of [their] choice, including reading the Bible and discussing it with others, praying to God, singing songs praising God, and talking to other people about their faith.” Believers still insist on their innocence.

Court of Appeal in Krasnoyarsk upheld Aleksandr Filatov’s sentence — 6 years in a penal colony

On 20 July 20, 2023, a panel of judges of the Krasnoyarsk Territory Court, chaired by Tatyana Lukyanova, upheld the verdict against 38-year-old Aleksandr Filatov. The father of two young children has been transferred to the penal colony No. 31 in the village Industrialniy (Krasnoyarsk). 

Alexander Filatov (Credit: Jehovah’s Witnesses Russia)
Alexander Filatov (Credit: Jehovah’s Witnesses Russia)

Filatov was convicted on charges of “organizing the activity of a banned extremist organization”, but in fact for discussing the Bible with his fellow believers. He still maintains being not guilty of extremism. In his appeal, he stated that the court violated his rights guaranteed by Article 28 of the RF Constitution: “I carried out actions underlying within the framework of freedom of religion.” 

The defense pointed out that the court did not apply the explanations of the Plenum of the RF Supreme Court, according to which believers have the right to hold meetings for worship if they do not contain signs of extremism. Aleksandr Filatov stated: “The presence of extremist goals and motives in my actions has not been proven. The verdict does not quote any extremist statements.” 

The persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia has been going on for more than six years and is gaining momentum, despite the condemnation of the world community. In the Krasnoyarsk Territory alone, 30 believers are facing criminal prosecution for their faith. Almost half of them were already sentenced: five have been sent to a penal colony, four have been given suspended sentences, and three have been fined.