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Centre for Inquiry via YouTube

Ireland steps in to help speaker interrupted by Saudi Arabia at the UN

Saudi Arabia interrupted the speaker on three occasions.

SAUDI ARABIA TRIED to silence a speaker from discussing a human rights case about the country at the UN Human Rights Council.

But Ireland stepped in to help the speaker as she made her presentation.

The Center for Inquiry speaker, Josephine Macintosh, said that: “Last month, Raif Badawi, who founded a Saudi website dedicated to fostering debate on religion and politics…was charged with insulting Islam.

“He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, a thousand lashes and 1 million Saudi riyals.”

Saudi Arabia interrupted the speaker to say, “We believe what is being said is completely outside of the mandate of this report…we request they stop the intervention.”

The United States asked that the speaker be allowed finish her presentation.

Ireland then added:

“We think it’s important to respect the right of NGOs to take the floor, to express their views irrespective of our position on the substance of the statement.

We believe that statements shouldn’t be interrupted on the grounds that an NGO mentions concrete examples of human rights violations where there’s a link to the agenda item and we think that’s the case in this situation.

“We ask you to allow the NGO to finish her statement.”

France and Canada also called for the NGO to continue.

Macintosh then resumed:

Corporal punishment such as flogging violates laws set by the convention on torture. We call on Saudi Arabia…to release Raif Badawi.

Saudi Arabia interrupted on two more occasions saying the accusations were unacceptable.

Here’s the full video of the incident:

Center for Inquiry / YouTube

Read: The only roles they can play are terrorists’: New film festival challenges Arab stereotypes>

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32 Comments
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    Mute Patrick Moran
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    Jun 25th 2014, 10:57 AM

    I don’t understand why Saudi takes a seat at a UN Human Rights convention when their agenda is anti-human rights.

    488
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    Mute Declan Conway
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    Jun 25th 2014, 11:41 AM

    And what will the World do?

    Nothing. Again.

    More oil, please.

    171
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    Mute Jeremy Usborne
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    Jun 25th 2014, 12:23 PM

    Its a pattern with most big energy producers it seems.

    38
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    Mute kingstown
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    Jun 25th 2014, 11:13 AM

    Lest anyone forgets – Saudi Arabia exports more than oil! 911 terrorists were Saudi and they are also behind ISIS. Nice people the Saudis

    150
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    Mute Gary Brandon
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    Jun 25th 2014, 12:51 PM

    The 911 terrorists were American, George Bush etc….. Still the small few in Ireland that believe is was a few extremist Muslims. Pathetic sheeple

    15
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    Mute Cathal O'Flaherty
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    Jun 25th 2014, 2:02 PM

    Don’t be so naive Gary,everyone knows it was the Rand Corporation,in conjunction with the Saucer People,under the supervision of the Reverse Vampires.

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    Mute Niall H
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    Jun 25th 2014, 4:52 PM

    Can’t believe all those red thumbs???? Is there still people out there who don’t think 9/11 was an inside job?? Read a book folks, or better still look at who profited from those events

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    Mute rachel walsh
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    Jun 25th 2014, 11:16 AM

    The wonderful world of organized religion strikes again.

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Jun 25th 2014, 12:10 PM

    Interesting that you think that… Care to explain how it links to this story?

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    Mute rachel walsh
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    Jun 25th 2014, 12:41 PM

    Here you go Paul:

    ‘The Center for Inquiry speaker, Josephine Macintosh, said that: “Last month, Raif Badawi, who founded a Saudi website dedicated to fostering debate on religion and politics…was charged with insulting Islam.’

    Hope this helps you.

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    Mute John B
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    Jun 25th 2014, 3:17 PM

    You do know that Sharia law is Islamic law yes? Anything else you need help with?

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    Mute rachel walsh
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    Jun 25th 2014, 3:36 PM

    Yes John, religion, you clearly need help so any questions don’t hesitate.

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Jun 25th 2014, 6:11 PM

    Rachel,
    You might have missed something. The headline reads “Ireland steps in to help speaker interrupted by Saudi Arabia at the UN” not long ago our “government” was playing a different stroke: http://www.thejournal.ie/human-rights-issues-taoiseach-visit-gulf-1254932-Jan2014/
    This is not about religion. It’s about a diplomatic failure.

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    Mute rachel walsh
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    Jun 25th 2014, 6:52 PM

    Oh…… i see, i have to comment on the whole article including the title, how silly of me. I must have missed that on the site faq. Terribly sorry Paul for causing you so much confusion but i would say that it is easily done considering you missed the Islamic notes here in the article. I could have sworn however that the human rights issues in this case were related to Islamic law in the country which is religiously orientated hence the interruptions.

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Jun 26th 2014, 7:20 PM

    No problem Rachel,
    I just thought that the diplomatic U-turn was much more interesting.

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    Mute Daniel Herley
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    Jun 25th 2014, 10:40 AM

    Wow

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    Mute The Green Monkey
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    Jun 25th 2014, 11:28 AM

    How does any work get done in that place…….

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    Mute Niall H
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    Jun 25th 2014, 4:49 PM

    I thank you green monkey, but Saudi Arabia would like to express a point of order before you finish. Thank you.

    Wonder how much it costs to run that talking shop?

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    Mute The Green Monkey
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    Jun 25th 2014, 4:53 PM

    Can I not just finish my comment……..

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    Mute Niall H
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    Jun 25th 2014, 5:15 PM

    I thank you green monkey but Saudi Arabia would like to express a point of order which happens to take the shape of an ak47 pointed in your direction…thank you

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    Mute Steve M
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    Jun 25th 2014, 12:11 PM

    15 of the 19 9/11 hijackers were citizens of Saudi Arabia…

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    Mute Jay Singh
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    Jun 25th 2014, 12:24 PM

    Well done Ireland !

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    Mute THE REBEL ONE™
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    Jun 25th 2014, 10:49 AM

    I can just picture Enda Kenny in the Irish chair……then again perhaps not as he is hopeless in a live situation. Well done Ireland.

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    Mute Maeve Mc Swiney
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    Jun 25th 2014, 1:50 PM

    Thats my little bro! Good job!

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    Mute eire366
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    Jun 25th 2014, 11:06 AM

    If the Irish representative farted during the debate would we be notified as well? National narcissism at its worst, yet again. Was interesting to see what goes on at the UN all the same, thanks.

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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Jun 25th 2014, 11:15 AM

    Its nice to have a voice in the world I suppose.

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    Mute Genius
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    Jun 25th 2014, 10:52 AM

    Underwhelming intervention.

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    Mute Diarmuid O'Malley
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    Jun 25th 2014, 11:39 AM

    It’s based on which country has the top seat in the chamber. It then goes in alphabetical order after that country . It’s done on a yearly basis.

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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Jun 25th 2014, 11:03 AM

    Can anyone explain the shuffling of signs?

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    Mute sol
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    Jun 25th 2014, 1:35 PM

    And there was enda over there a couple of months ago singing their praises saying how great they were. Said they’d come a long way. From what exactly. This is a totally repressive regime and our govt is welcoming them here with open arms.

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    Mute Munchma Quchi
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    Jun 25th 2014, 1:09 PM

    Greatest moment in our nation’s history. Proud 2 b Irish.

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    Mute traveling mafia
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    Jun 25th 2014, 10:50 AM

    Crazy

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