Wiesenthal Center BRIEFINGS FROM Durban II – Number 3:

“IRAN’S PERSISTENT RACIST INCITEMENT SHOULD RESULT IN ITS SUSPENSION FROM THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL”

Geneva

An Iranian protest, against the diplomatic walkout during President Ahmadinejad’s speech on Monday 20, gathered opposite the seat of the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, the landmark Wilson Palace in Geneva.

Demonstrators waived banners on “Zionism = Racism”, placed candles forming a map of Israel across a gravestone and displayed a poster of a hand – fingers amputated Jihadi-style – marked “Zionism = Apartheid.”

They also distributed to passersby, pens inscribed with the Star of David = a Swastika and a CD-Rom produced in Teheran by the Association of NGOs and Activists for Liberation of Holy-Quds [Jerusalem] / Iran. This CD is replete with Holocaust denial, antisemitic and even anti-Indian cartoons and posters.

Wiesenthal Center delegates to Durban II, Dr. Shimon Samuels (Director for International Relations) and Sergio Widder (Latin American Director) commented: “this sickening demonstration of hate shows that, though Ahmadinejad has left Geneva, his venom will continue to poison the Durban Review Conference until its conclusion and beyond.”

“Iran’s persistent racist incitement should result in its suspension from the UN Human Rights Council,” they concluded.

*Photos shown below are of the demonstration and a selection from the CD-Rom.

For further information contact Shimon Samuels at +41 (0)76 7443491 or Sergio Widder +41 (0)76 7595477.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400.000 members. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS and the Latin American Parliament.