UN Racism Investigator, Who Is A Muslim, To Visit United States

A special U.N. human rights investigator will visit the United States this month to probe racism, an issue that has forced its way into the race to secure the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. The United Nations said Doudou Diene, a Muslim, would meet federal and local officials, as well as lawmakers and judicial authorities during his May 19-June 6 visit.

"The special rapporteur will gather first-hand information on issues related to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance," a U.N. statement said on Friday. His three-week visit, at U.S. government invitation, will cover eight cities: Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Omaha, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Race has become a central issue in the U.S. election cycle because Sen. Barack Obama, the frontrunner in the battle for the Democratic nomination battle, stands to become the country's first African-American president.

Diene, a Senegalese lawyer who has served in the independent post since 2002, will report his findings to the U.N. Human Rights Council next year. However, the United Nations has almost no clout when it comes to U.S. domestic affairs and is widely perceived by many as interfering. The United States is not among the 47 member states of the Geneva-based forum, but has observer status.

In a report last year, he said Islamophobia had grown worldwide since the September 11 2001 attacks on the United States, carried out by al-Qaeda militants. While the United Nations has taken several "unprecedented" steps in recent years to recognize and reject anti-Semitism, the world body has yet to "to fully live up to its promise," according to a report released by UN Watch.

Based on an examination of key actions by leading UN agencies and officials, the 64-page study, "The UN and Anti-Semitism, 2004-2007 Report Card," marks the first time that the UN’s record on fighting anti-Semitism has been measured since Mr. Annan issued a call to action in June 2004, urging non-governmental organizations to "keep us to the mark."

The report gave the UN high marks for new Holocaust commemoration activities, and for condemnations of Iran’s Holocaust denial issued by the Security Council, the General Assembly, and several senior officials and it revealed "inaction" by certain UN officials. Despite numerous appeals made by NGOs to High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbor, the report failed to find any "noteworthy action on her part against Holocaust denial or any other form of anti-Semitism." Because Ms. Arbor is charged with overseeing the UN effort to protect human rights and fight racism, said the report, "this lapse is disappointing and cause for concern."

The report describes how the UN’s Islamic bloc of 56 states is waging a campaign in key UN bodies "to gut anti-Semitism of its meaning, by making the absurd argument that the term also refers to hatred against Arabs and Muslims." In September, Ambassador Massoud Khan of Pakistan, speaking for the Islamic group, said that Islamophobia was "a cruel form of anti-Semitism."

The report examines the annual plethora of resolutions by the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council "that contribute—whether by intent or in their effect—to an atmosphere that demonizes the Jewish state and promotes hostility toward Jews as a whole." In its first year, the Human Rights Council "passed one hundred percent of its condemnatory resolutions against Israel, ignoring the other 191 UN member states, including the world’s worst abusers."

The report analyzes speeches and articles showing how Iran, Syria, and other Middle Eastern extremists "make direct use of these resolutions to justify their cause and to delegitimize Israel." A frightening look into the mindset of the leftist multiculturalists, a deep distaste for democracy and a strong resentment towards the individual and their ability to think and govern themselves. Here we see their mindset very clearly. There are no objections to the idea of forcing propaganda on people to further their agenda, and silence dissent.

The UN Special Envoy for monitoring of racism and xenophobia, Doudou Diene, openly stated that he thinks journalists and media channels, should actively work to promote a multicultural society. The media should not just report what’s going on, they should also consciously promote recognition, understanding and respect for cultural and religious diversity in society, in his words.

Diene further stated that European governments that have introduced strict immigration policies, like Switzerland, Austria, and Denmark are racist. He also expressed concern that democratic processes could lead to anti-immigration parties to come into power. He also stated that it’s a sign of a dangerous development when more and more intellectuals and academics in the west believe some cultures or religions are better than others.

Agnes Callamard, a leader of the organization article 19, expressed concern that it can become difficult to carry out the ideal of equal representation of all groups in society, unless you can control the state media. Diversity, ethnic, cultural and religious, must permeate the media, if we are to succeed in promoting the multicultural society.

It should come as no surprise that Doudou Diene's country of Senegal adheres to Islam and is practiced by approximately 95 percent of the population.