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Human rights activist describes US withdrawal from UNHRC as ‘arrogant’

June 21, 2018 at 12:30 pm

Moroccans hold Palestinians flags and banners during a pro Palestinian March in Rabat, Morocco [Jalal Morchidi/Anadolu Agency]

Moroccan human rights activist Khadija Al-Ryadi has described the US decision to withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council as “arrogant” and “political hypocrisy”. She made her comments in an interview with Anadolu on Wednesday.

Al-Ryadi is the coordinator of the Moroccan coalition of human rights bodies. In 2013 she was the first Arab woman to receive the UN Human Rights Award.

UNHRC investigations into the Israeli violations against the Palestinian people rights are embarrassing to Washington, said Al-Ryadi. America’s withdrawal is a general policy pursued by the Trump administration, she pointed out. Since its inception it has withdrawn from many international agreements and bodies, including the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in October last year.

In any case, the activist explained, the US withdrawal will not affect the Council because its decisions and recommendations are non-binding.

“The United States has evaded responsibility before the Council because it has been widely criticised over its human rights policies including the latest criticism by the Human Rights Commission of the Trump administration’s immigration policy,” she added.

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