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Islamic Human Rights Commission
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URGENT ALERT
8 September, 2001

MARY ROBINSON DENIES EQUAL RIGHTS TO PALESTINIANS UN HIGH COMMISSIONER SNUBS DEMOCRACY & HUMAN RIGHTS

1. Background
2. Requested Action
3. Specimen Letter

Background

The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) strongly condemns the stance taken by Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights against justice for Palestinians. Her rejection of paragraphs 418 and 419 in the historic NGO Declaration clearly indicate that she is highly partisan on this issue. Her statements also show her contempt for the processes of civil society and democratic participation.

Addressing NGOs at the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, Mary Robinson attacked paragraphs 418 and 419 on the Palestinian issue in the Declaration. She cited them as the sole reason for not being able to recommend the document as a whole to the governmental delegates at the main conference. Chairman of IHRC Massoud Shadjareh said:

“By attacking these paragraphs, Mary Robinson has sent a message to all other NGOs representing victims of racism around the world that their needs will not be addressed unless they stop showing solidarity with Palestinian victims of Zionist racism.

“The pro-Zionist lobbies at this conference both NGO and governmental were unable to stop victims around the world identifying their causes and the Palestinian cause as one. Mary Robinson’s comments exemplify a cynical strategy to isolate Palestinians and other victims of Zionist discrimination from the rest of the NGO community. It is sickening to hear a UN High Commissioner effectively tell the NGO community that she will be happy to support their causes in their entirety so long as they stop calling for justice for Palestine.”

IHRC is calling upon Mary Robinson to acknowledge that her position is now severely compromised and resign with immediate effect from her post.

Continued overleaf.

Requested action:

Please write / fax / the Office of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan asking him to request Mary Robinson’s resignation forthwith. A specimen letter is attached.

Specimen letter:

Office of the Spokesman for the Secretary-General
United Nations, S-378
New York
NY 10017

Tel. 212-963-7162
Fax. 212-963-7055

Dear Mr. Annan,

I am shocked and disgusted by the comments made by Mary Robinson with regard to the NGO Declaration at the World Conference Against Racism.

I am sure you will agree that her imposition of her own biases against the Palestinian people on the proceedings makes her position as an unbiased rapporteur and office bearer untenable. In particular you will agree that her contempt for the meticulously followed procedures that NGOs followed in agreeing this document shows clearly that she holds the procedures of the UN in contempt.

I am sure you agree that Mrs. Robinson’s position is no longer tenable, and you will be advising her to relinquish her post forthwith.

Yours sincerely,

[Your name]

For further information please contact the Press Officer on 07958 522 196 .[END]

Islamic Human Rights Commission
PO Box 598, Wembley, HA9 7XH, United Kingdom
Telephone (+44) 20 8902 0888 Fax (+44) 20 8902 0889
E-mail: info@ihrc.org Web: www.ihrc.org