GENEVA — Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Wasel warned against any interference in the internal affairs of the country while asserting that the Kingdom is carrying out comprehensive reform policies conforming to fundamental principles of Islamic Shariah, especially with regard to women's rights and enhancing their role in public life. Addressing the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) session, he also stressed that the Kingdom has an independent judicial system that deals with all cases in accordance with the provisions of the Islamic Shariah and the Kingdom's legal system. "The Kingdom's delegation listened with astonishment and surprise to the statement made by Australia on behalf of a group of countries, because it carries with it a number of fallacies and misleading information against my country. We categorically reject any interference by any state in the Kingdom's internal policies, and we also affirm the sovereignty and independence of its judicial institutions," he said. Al-Wasel pointed to the joint statement delivered by the Kingdom's delegation at the 40th session of the HRC on behalf of 78 countries in the general debate, expressing concern about the gross violations of the rights of minorities, migrants and Muslims as they suffer in the face of racist and extremist policies. He said it is unfortunate that some Western parliaments have accepted this, and it has found the approval of the governments in some countries that continue to give lectures on human rights in this hall. "The growing phenomenon of extremism against Muslims, racism and xenophobia against foreigners and minorities is a natural consequence of the inaction and sympathy of some governments, such as Australia and other Western countries. These countries adopt racist approach and commit human and whose parliamentarians openly resort to jingoistic rhetoric," he said. He underlined that Brenton Tarrant who committed heinous massacre in New Zealand, had a racist and xenophobic approach. Al-Wasel said HRC should expose Australia's domestic policy on migration, refugees and deportation, which is one of the most egregious racist policies of the 21st century. "The world is witnessing disturbing humanitarian cases in Australian detention camps where the worst human rights violations are being committed against migrants. All of these are accompanied by racist calls from politicians and parliamentarians demanding Australia to tighten laws and expel migrants," he said while noting that government of Australia had failed to develop a comprehensive national plan to address those issues, and other Western States have been reluctant to urge Australia to abandon the racist approach. Al-Wasel called on all states to exert more efforts to develop a clear international stance in combating intolerance, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, discrimination and incitement to violence against persons based on their religion or belief.
