Syria challenges UNHR commissioner to provide a clue to her allegations

GENEVA,(ST)_Syria has deprecated the clear-cut bias of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay in dealing with events in Syria.

Dr. Faisal al-Hamwi, Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva commented on Pillay’s report before the UNHRC about events in Syria by saying: ” The Syrian delegation strongly denounces and regrets the clear-cut bias in the report which only blames the Syrian government and turns blind eye to the HR violations being perpetrated by groups of al-Qaeda, al-Nusra Front and Takfiris.”

He made it clear that the commissioner has ignored the Syrian state’s right of protecting its people and exaggerated the situation in al-Qusayr city through taking about of hundreds of innocent civilians in the city.

‘Provocation’  

“Pillay has predicted that massacres will be committed in al-Qusayr city 20 days ahead of the beginning of events there. This can be interpreted as irresponsible provocation for continuing violence,” al-Hamwi said.

He challenged the commissioner and her team, false witnesses, the US Benetech to provide a clue to said allegations, noting that the Syrian government has allowed the civilians to exit al-Qusayr city under its protection and gave gunmen an opportunity to lay down their weapons and settle their situation.

But, al-Hamwi added, some gunmen have insisted on fighting using thousands of civilians as human shields in a blatant slight on human rights.

UNHRC credibility at risk

He stressed that the UNHRC’s credibility is at risk as it doesn’t explicitly condemn Qatar and Turkey, who are offering facilities to thousands of Takfiris came from more than 40 countries.   

On the other hand, al-Hamwi said: “Pillay’s call for referring Syria’s file to ICC goes beyond its task…She knows well that the Syrian government is investigating all crimes.”

“Over the past two year, Syria has cooperated with the commissioner and its office despite deliberated ignorance of the information presented by the Syrian government,” he added, citing that the commissioner insists on following unprofessional and biased policy.

Basma Qaddour