The United Nations has come under fire for allegedly sanitizing criticisms of the Saudi government during a pivotal conference in Riyadh. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), the UN Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF) erased critical remarks from its official transcript and threatened to remove a Saudi researcher for voicing dissent. HRW emphasized that this represented a concerning trend of oppressive governments stifling free expression at critical international events.
Deborah Brown, HRW’s deputy director, voiced strong condemnation, asserting, “The UN and its member states should put an end to a climate of intimidation and censorship toward diplomats, journalists, human rights advocates, and other civil society representatives at UN conferences.” She lamented that curbing open dialogue on internet policies, especially concerning the host nation, undermines the core purpose of the IGF.
During December’s conference, HRW and Alqst organized a panel focusing on the implications of a new cybercrime treaty. Lina al-Hathloul, a prominent Saudi activist, described her home country as a grim illustration of how such laws can be manipulated against dissenters. Al-Hathloul highlighted a state security initiative that monitors Saudis abroad, conveying a grave warning about their return.
The conference panel observed a moment of silence for human rights defenders imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for their online expressions, underscoring the harsh realities they face, including staggering prison sentences. However, in a baffling turn of events, video and transcripts of this discussion were removed from UN IGF’s website soon after.
When HRW inquired about the removals, UN IGF staff cited the organization’s code of conduct, suggesting those comments violated guidelines, yet offered scant clarity on their rationale. A revised video version of the panel was later published, omitting significant portions of al-Hathloul’s statements that addressed the plight of jailed activists.
HRW reported that the Saudi government lodged complaints about moderator Joey Shea’s comments, noting that her references to specific activists might breach conduct norms. They initially discussed revoking her conference access, but ultimately it was not enforced. However, this situation reflects a broader pattern of censorship encountered by various human rights groups during the forum.
In a troubling incident, Amnesty International’s booth was stripped of flyers advocating for imprisoned individuals, highlighting a disturbing suppression of activism. Additionally, another panel discussing digital rights faced interruptions from explicit content, coinciding with mentions of journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, injecting an unsettling layer of controversy into the event.
Brown calls on the UN to uphold freedom of expression and cultivate a robust civil society atmosphere at its gatherings. With the IGF’s mandate renewal looming, she stressed the urgent need for the UN to secure safe spaces for civil society participation while discarding arbitrary conduct constraints.
The UN has been accused of censoring criticism of Saudi Arabia at the Internet Governance Forum, with Human Rights Watch highlighting the suppression of dissenting voices. Activist Lina al-Hathloul discussed Saudi Arabia’s misuse of cybercrime laws, while HRW criticized the UN for censoring panel discussions and revoking access to key participants at the conference. The situation exemplifies broader issues of intimidation faced by civil society at international events.
In summary, the UN faces serious allegations of censorship during its Internet Governance Forum in Saudi Arabia, highlighting the struggles of human rights advocates in oppressive settings. Voices critical of the Saudi government were suppressed, and serious concerns were raised about the integrity of UN events. Deborah Brown stressed the need for the UN to champion freedom of expression and ensure civil society’s safety at future forums.
Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net
