Who is the liar: Human Rights Watch’s Ken Roth, or the Trump administration? (UPDATE)

This tweet from Human Rights Watch chief Ken Roth is typical, and still incredible:


Let’s parse this:

“The United Nations Human Rights Council, which if you listen to Trump only criticizes Israel”

Is this true? No, quite the opposite. When the US pulled out of the UNHRC it said it was partially because of its relentless and disproportionate criticism of Israel, but no one ever said that it “only” criticizes Israel. This is Ken Roth’s bizarre recollection of what happened. But the facts show that the Trump administration was accurate, and Roth is a liar.

“just condemned Iran (yet again) …”

“Yet again”? Roth, whose entire job is supposed to defend human rights, is implying that the UNHRC is spending too much time attacking the human rights record of Iran. But he is quite happy with the daily criticism of Israel at the UNHRC.
Am I exaggerating? No. On Thursday, the UNHRC passed a resolution condemning Israel yet again.
On Wednesday, during a debate about police brutality in the US, “speakers stated that Israel’s systematic shoot-to-kill policy of Palestinians amounted to apartheid.” There is, of course, no systemic “shoot to kill” policy for Palestinians who are not actively engaged in a life-threatening attack.
But the UNHRC lies, just like Ken Roth. This is why they are so simpatico.

“by a vote of 22 for, 8 against, and 15 abstaining.”

Meaning that  the UN’s  human rights body could not muster a majority of votes to condemn Iran’s human rights violations – 23 countries decided not to vote to condemn Iran versus 22 that did.
Which goes to show how morally corrupt the UNHRC is – but to Roth, this condemnation was overkill.

UPDATE: Ken Roth lied about the Iran resolution too! It never condemned Iran!

My good friend @KenRoth lies again.

Today's UNHRC resolution on Iran does NOT condemn the regime. And not a single human rights abuse is mentioned.

On the contrary: Listen to resolution sponsor Sweden call it a "short, procedural text," then praise Iran's "positive engagement." https://t.co/cAOiNTpFxS pic.twitter.com/1vFpjSVwL3

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) June 22, 2020