Saudi Arabia rejects interference in its internal policies, says the kingdom’s representative to UN
Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Wasil affirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is pursuing well-established reform policies that conform to its basic principles and Islamic pillars, particularly with regard to women's rights and enhancing their role in the public life.
Dr. Al-Wasil stressed that the Kingdom enjoys a solid and independent judiciary system that handles all cases in accordance with the rulings of Islamic Sharia and the country's judicial regulations.
Before the Human Rights Council inGeneva, the Saudi ambassador to the United Nations said that "thedelegation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has listened with disapproval to thestatement made by Australia, on behalf of a group of States, as it holds anumber of misinformation and fallacies against my country.
In this regard, we categoricallyreject interference of any state in the Kingdom's internal policies, as weemphasize the sovereignty and independence of its judicial institutions."
On behalf of 78 states before the40th Human Rights Council with regard to 7th provision, Dr. Al-Wasil expressedconcern over horrific violations of the rights of minorities, immigrants andMuslims as well as the racist and extremist policies, adding that "thesepolicies and practices are unfortunately popular and accepted by some westernparliaments and are even sponsored by governments in some countries thatlecture on human rights in this room."
He asserted that exacerbation ofextremism against Muslims, racism and hatred against foreigners and minoritieshas been a natural consequence of the inaction and sympathy of somegovernments, such as Australia and other Western countries, with this racistapproach.
"This Council should highlightAustralia's internal policy on immigration, refugees and deportation, which isone of the most egregious racist policies in the 21st century," Dr.Al-Wasil said, adding that the government of Australia has failed to set acomprehensive national plan to address these issues and other Western countrieshave been reluctant to urge Australia to abandon this racist approach.
"It is time to review the HumanRights Council's resolution No. 16/18, "combating intolerance, negativestereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violenceand violence against persons based on religion or belief," he said,calling upon the states, particularly the Human Rights Council, to exert moreefforts to take a clear international stance towards this issue in order toprevent practices of hatred and extremism in the world.
