NEW YORK // Saudi Arabia's attempts to stage an inter-faith debate at UN headquarters have met with resistance, with analysts criticising the kingdom for denying citizens and residents basic religious freedoms.
Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, president of the UN General Assembly, is finalising plans this week for a two-day, high-level meeting on religion to take place in New York next month in co-ordination with Saudi officials.
Critics argue that the lack of religious freedoms in the kingdom mean Saudi officials have no right to stage such a conference, and criticise the United Nations for betraying its principles by supporting the project.
"The spectacle of Saudi Arabia pontificating about religious rights borders on the farcical," said Anne Bayefsky, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based policy research body.
"Let's not forget the way they deal with religious minorities or the fact that Christian symbols cannot be publicly displayed."
Ali al Ahmed, director of the Washington-based Institute for Gulf Affairs, said the government denies religious freedoms to non-Muslims.
The scholar said Saudi officials embarked on a "public relations campaign" following the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, trying to "clean up" its image.
In its 2008 report on religious freedom around the world, the US state department identified Saudi Arabia as one of eight "countries of particular concern" for having "engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom".
The Saudi delegation to the UN refused to respond to criticism, but a recent letter sent by Prince Saud Al Faisal, the foreign minister, to Mr d'Escoto said the event would "encourage dialogue, understanding and co-operation between religions and cultures, thereby promoting peace and harmony".
The event will follow on from the World Conference on Dialogue organised by King Abdullah in July, which saw Jews, Muslims and Christians meet in Madrid to seek common ground between faiths.
Defenders of King Abdullah have pointed out that by hosting non-Muslim scholars in the Spanish capital, and senior Shiites in Mecca the previous month, the monarch was being progressive by Saudi Arabia's conservative standards.
The king has also been advancing a political agenda, with Saudi helping broker a short-lived power-sharing arrangement between the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah last year, and another deal between Somalia's transitional government and Islamist insurgents.
While detractors scrutinise Saudi's credentials for such diplomatic efforts, others argue the kingdom is presenting a moderate and acceptable counterbalance to the region's other major power, Iran.
But by co-hosting an interfaith conference under the aegis of the United Nations, human rights advocates said that Mr d'Escoto is undermining the very principles he is supposed to be upholding.
One of the most fundamental UN documents, the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, spells out an individual's "freedom to change his religion" and right "to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance".
The critics argue that Mr d'Escoto, together with Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, who has supported King Abdullah's efforts, are betraying fundamental principles of their organisation.
"The UN's move gives credibility to the violators of human rights and allows them to hide or conceal their true intentions," Ms Bayefsky said.
"It does a disservice to the UN's mission as a whole."
Mr d'Escoto, a Nicaraguan priest, has already become a controversial character at UN headquarters for making anti-US remarks and embracing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's president, at the General Assembly podium last month.
Enrique Yeves, the assembly president's spokesman, answered the criticism of the Saudi religious project by saying the debates, to be held on Nov 12 and 13, would represent an important "dialogue of religions".
"He believes that we should go beyond the dialogue itself," Mr Yeves said. "Now, the different religions should join forces and work together to try to resolve the most important issues that humanity is facing."
jreinl@thenational.ae
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The biog
Name: Mohammed Imtiaz
From: Gujranwala, Pakistan
Arrived in the UAE: 1976
Favourite clothes to make: Suit
Cost of a hand-made suit: From Dh550
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,00
On sale: Available for preorder now
The specs: Hyundai Ionic Hybrid
Price, base: Dh117,000 (estimate)
Engine: 1.6L four-cylinder, with 1.56kWh battery
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 105hp (engine), plus 43.5hp (battery)
Torque: 147Nm (engine), plus 170Nm (battery)
Fuel economy, combined: 3.4L / 100km
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Third-place play-off: New Zealand v Wales, Friday, 1pm
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
SPECS
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Company%20Profile
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Your Guide to the Home
- Level 1 has a valet service if you choose not to park in the basement level. This level houses all the kitchenware, including covetable brand French Bull, along with a wide array of outdoor furnishings, lamps and lighting solutions, textiles like curtains, towels, cushions and bedding, and plenty of other home accessories.
- Level 2 features curated inspiration zones and solutions for bedrooms, living rooms and dining spaces. This is also where you’d go to customise your sofas and beds, and pick and choose from more than a dozen mattress options.
- Level 3 features The Home’s “man cave” set-up and a display of industrial and rustic furnishings. This level also has a mother’s room, a play area for children with staff to watch over the kids, furniture for nurseries and children’s rooms, and the store’s design studio.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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MATCH INFO
Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')
Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
SPIDER-MAN%3A%20ACROSS%20THE%20SPIDER-VERSE
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Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Company%20Profile
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Superpower%20
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World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday, February 8 v Kenya; Friday, February 9 v Canada; Sunday, February 11 v Nepal; Monday, February 12 v Oman; Wednesday, February 14 v Namibia; Thursday, February 15 final
HOW TO WATCH
Facebook: TheNationalNews
Twitter: @thenationalnews
Instagram: @thenationalnews.com
TikTok: @thenationalnews
Pakistan v New Zealand Test series
Pakistan: Sarfraz (c), Hafeez, Imam, Azhar, Sohail, Shafiq, Azam, Saad, Yasir, Asif, Abbas, Hassan, Afridi, Ashraf, Hamza
New Zealand: Williamson (c), Blundell, Boult, De Grandhomme, Henry, Latham, Nicholls, Ajaz, Raval, Sodhi, Somerville, Southee, Taylor, Wagner
Umpires: Bruce Oxerford (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG); TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS); Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
Tickets and schedule: Entry is free for all spectators. Gates open at 9am. Play commences at 10am
if you go
The flights Fly Dubai, Air Arabia, Emirates, Etihad, and Royal Jordanian all offer direct, three-and-a-half-hour flights from the UAE to the Jordanian capital Amman. Alternatively, from June Fly Dubai will offer a new direct service from Dubai to Aqaba in the south of the country. See the airlines’ respective sites for varying prices or search on reliable price-comparison site Skyscanner.
The trip
Jamie Lafferty was a guest of the Jordan Tourist Board. For more information on adventure tourism in Jordan see Visit Jordan. A number of new and established tour companies offer the chance to go caving, rock-climbing, canyoning, and mountaineering in Jordan. Prices vary depending on how many activities you want to do and how many days you plan to stay in the country. Among the leaders are Terhaal, who offer a two-day canyoning trip from Dh845 per person. If you really want to push your limits, contact the Stronger Team. For a more trek-focused trip, KE Adventure offers an eight-day trip from Dh5,300 per person.
RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: JAP Almahfuz, Fernando Jara (jockey), Irfan Ellahi (trainer).
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 1,400m
Winner: AF Momtaz, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi.
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 1,400m
Winner: Yaalail, Fernando Jara, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh180,000 1,600m
Winner: Ihtesham, Szczepan Mazur, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami.
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: Dahess D’Arabie, Fernando Jara, Helal Al Alawi.
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 2.200m
Winner: Ezz Al Rawasi, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi.
Leaderboard
63 - Mike Lorenzo-Vera (FRA)
64 - Rory McIlroy (NIR)
66 - Jon Rahm (ESP)
67 - Tom Lewis (ENG), Tommy Fleetwood (ENG)
68 - Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)
69 - Justin Rose (ENG), Thomas Detry (BEL), Francesco Molinari (ITA), Danny Willett (ENG), Li Haotong (CHN), Matthias Schwab (AUT)
