KEY WEST LOU COMMENTARY

BY LOUIS PETRONE

KONK LIFE COLUMNIST

The United States views Saudi Arabia as one of its closest allies. Why, I have never understood. They gave us $4 a gallon gasoline. They may have been behind 9/11. Today, they fight on opposite sides from those we support in certain Middle East wars.

Saudi Arabia for years wanted a seat on the UN Human Rights Council. They attained the seat in 2014. Now less than two years later, Saudi Arabia is angling to be president of the UN Human Rights Council. The election

is in December 2015, the new president taking office in 2016.

I view Saudi Arabia’s being on the UN Human Rights Council a mockery. If it were to become president, a greater mockery.

Saudi Arabia beheads people. A well known fact. No question about it.

In 2014, 88 persons were beheaded. Thus far in 2015, 85. The Saudis are running ahead of last year and probably will significantly exceed the 88 number.

Twenty three of those beheaded in 2014 were Christians. There is a Saudi ban on Christianity. A group were

practicing their faith in a private home. They were arrested, tried and beheaded.

Note, this is not ISIS. Saudi Arabia is a recognized independent nation. A member of the UN Human Rights Council. Hopefully from their perspective, the next president of the UN Human Rights Council.

Thirty eight of those beheaded thus far in 2015 were so executed for non-violent drug related crimes.

Saudis are members of an extreme faction of Islam. Wahabbist. The group is austere in its religious practices and has long been considered a source of global terrorism. Typical of its practices are beheadings in a town square and oppression of women, Christians and gays. The Saudis recently have been jailing innocent bloggers who challenge

Saudi Arabia’s brand of Islam.

Nillel Neuer is executive director of U.N. Watch. Neuer recently said that electing Saudi Arabia to head the

UN Human Rights Council is comparable to “a pyromaniac as town fire chief.”

It gets better.

A few days before Saudi Arabia’s desire to head the UN Human Rights Council became public, Saudi Arabia

advertised for eight additional swordsman. The job description beheading. Apparently the record number of

beheadings this year requires more help.

The requirement for the job was singular. To possess a willingness to sever heads of human beings accused of committing crimes. The Civil Service Ministry said no other qualifications were required and that applicants were exempted from usual entrance exams.

The job description included performing amputations ordered by Courts under Islamic sharia law.

The vacancies were advertised on the Civil Service Ministry’s website in the “Religious Jobs” section.

Hypocrisy exists at both ends of the spectrum.

Saudi Arabia in wanting to head the UN Human Rights Council and advertising for persons to fill beheading jobs.

The United States has its share

of hypocrisy. Certain of our phony politicians and media hype what they consider anti-Christian behavior. When was the last time you heard either group speak negatively where Saudi Arabia was involved? The shame of it all is our politicians and media decry beheadings when ISIS does it. Yet turn their heads the other way when Saudi Arabia is the culprit.

The United States will be asked to support Saudi Arabia’s desire to head the UN Human Rights Council. The United States should not. If we do, the hypocrisy will sound clear. There must come a time when the United States breaks its shackles with Saudi Arabia. Perhaps opposing Saudi Arabia’s desire to head the UN Human Rights Council is that time.

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