UN Human Rights Council Welcomes Saudi Arabia to Its Ranks

You’ll never believe which states joined the United Nations Human Rights Council. Or, well, if you know anything about the UN, perhaps you will believe it:

Welcome to the new 2017 membership @UN_HRC:
Saudi Arabia
Venezuela
China
Cuba
Iraq
Qatar
Burundi
Bangladesh
United Arab Emirates#UNreform pic.twitter.com/Z355F8mI8Z

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) January 2, 2017

That reads like a who’s who of human rights abusers. Nowadays, however, these regimes — which routinely oppress women, and jail, torture, and even kill critics — are somehow deemed to be the protectors of our universal human rights. I’d laugh if it wasn’t so incredibly sad.

But wait, the UNHCR says, don’t criticize Saudi Arabia! According to Sharia they have “fair gender equality”!

Saudi Arabia begins 2017-2019 term @UN_HRC. Don’t worry: “Saudi Arabia supports empowerment of women” & “guarantees fair gender equality.” pic.twitter.com/J5ZIKWboZR

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) January 2, 2017

Satire, right? Nope, the UNHCR is dead serious.