Criticism of Human Rights Watch: Difference between revisions

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===pro-Israel bias===
===pro-Israel bias===
HRW has stated that in much of the Middle East it is accused of being soft on Israeli human rights violations.<ref name="HRW_response"/>


HRW has also been criticised for its condemnation of the Palestinian use of human shields <ref>http://www.counterpunch.org/cook11302006.html</ref><ref>http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/article.php?pg=11&ar=700</ref><ref>http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/article.php?pg=11&ar=700#rdrl</ref>
HRW has also been criticised for its condemnation of the Palestinian use of human shields <ref>http://www.counterpunch.org/cook11302006.html</ref><ref>http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/article.php?pg=11&ar=700</ref><ref>http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/article.php?pg=11&ar=700#rdrl</ref>

==Stance against teaching suspected terrorists the value of tolerance==

In August 2009, HRW criticized Saudi Arabia for teaching suspected [[Al Qaeda]] terrorists the value of [[tolerance]]. The Saudi reeducation program, which has been praised by the United States, teaches the detainees that the ideology of Al Qaeda is a corruption of [[Islam]]. Nevertheless, HRW is against the program saying, "human rights law does not permit the detention of persons to undergo a reeducation program."<ref>Murphy, Caryle. [http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0810/p06s05-wome.html "Rights group criticizes Saudi Arabia's Al Qaeda reeducation program."] ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]''. 10 August 2009. 11 August 2009.</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 22:39, 11 August 2009

Allegations of pro–United States bias against democracy in Latin America

Haiti 2004 coup d'etat

The 2004 Haiti rebellion was a coup d'etat that removed elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide of Haiti either voluntarily (according to US authorities)[1] or involuntarily (according to Aristide and supporters)[2] from the Americas on a US plane accompanied by US security personnel[2][1] on 29 February 2004. Z Communications author Joe Emersberger claimed that HRW had accurately reported on human rights violations in Haiti following an earlier coup against Aristide, in 1991, but that it was inaccurate in reporting the relative numbers of violent deaths before and after the 2004 coup.[3] Emersberger estimated the relative numbers of deaths as about 20–30 per year before the 2004 coup versus 1000 in the first month following the coup. He stated, "HRW's reports were not only inexcusably sparse, but they legitimized the overthrow of Aristide" and that HRW "knew that criminals were being incorporated into the police; yet they were silent about this contributing factor to the abuses that occurred under Aristide."[3]

Venezuela during Chávez presidency

Human Rights Watch's work on Venezuela was the subject of debate in late 2008 to early 2009 after 118 scholars from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, México, the United States, the U.K., Venezuela, and other countries openly criticized[4] HRW for a perceived bias against the government of Venezuela. On December 17 2008 an open letter was sent to the HRW Board of Directors in response to an HRW report, entitled, A Decade Under Chávez: Political Intolerance and Lost Opportunities for Advancing Human Rights in Venezuela.[5] The open letter criticized the report by stating that it "does not meet even the most minimal standards of scholarship, impartiality, accuracy, or credibility." The letter also criticizes the lead author of the report, Jose Miguel Vivanco, for his "political agenda", and calls Mr. Vivanco to discuss or debate his claims in "any public forum of his choosing".[6]

Claims of ignoring human rights violations in Europe

Anti-Semitism

HRW has been criticised for ignoring the growth of anti-semitism in Europe[7][8].

Claims of bias for or against Israel

Anti-Israel bias

HRW has also been accused of bias against the state of Israel[9] or having an anti-Israel agenda[10][11]. It has been accused of having this agenda from its very beginning[12]. According to David Bernstein,[13] HRW is “maniacally anti-Israel”. As well as sacrificing the interest of Israel is not of great importance, and that criticism is a price worth paying to achieve other goals.[14] Others have questioned this idea[15].

Funding from Saudi Arabia

Some columnists claim Human Right Watch raisies funds in Saudi Arabia by describing HRW's "battles" and arguments with Israel and its supporters. Herb Keinon, a columnist for the Jerusalem Post, and Jeffrey Goldberg, a correspondent for the Atlantic (magazine) and former columnist for the Jerusalem Post, claim this compromises HRW's integrity. [16] In an email exchange, Jeffrey Goldberg asked HRW director Kenneth Roth if funds were raised to fight back against pro-Israel lobbying groups. Roth responded, "The Saudis obviously are aware of the systematic attacks on us by various reflexive defenders of Israel. Everyone is." During fundraisers, he states that these complaints are common in "discussions" and is not just exclusive to Saudi Arabia. [17]

Professor David Bernstein of the George Mason University School of Law writes, something's "wrong when a human rights organization goes to one of the worst countries in the world for human rights to raise money to wage lawfare against Israel."[18]

Human Rights Watch says the allegations that HRW had "compromised its neutrality" by meeting with Saudi donors were based on "misleading assumptions and wrong facts". HRW notes that staffers made two presentations in Saudi Arabia in May 2009 in private homes to people who were interested in Human Rights Watch. The guests at those receptions included the deputy head of the Human Rights Commission of Saudi Arabia and a member of the Shura Council; however neither of those individuals were solicited for funds and HRW never accepts funds from government officials in any country. [19] HRW notes that simply because the audience were Saudi citizens, it does not mean they cannot legitimiately want to support human rights. [19]

According to HRW its work in Saudi Arabia was discussed at the receptions, including "coverage of women's rights, the juvenile death penalty, domestic workers, and discrimination against religious minorities". HRW also claims "No other human rights group has produced a more comprehensive, detailed, and thorough body of work on Saudi Arabian human rights issues in recent years than Human Rights Watch" (HRW Saudi Arabia). Although the Gaza situation was covered, HRW claimed the coverage was justified as the Gaza war dominated worldwide headlines and is a regional issue in Saudi Arabia.[19]

pro-Israel bias

HRW has also been criticised for its condemnation of the Palestinian use of human shields [20][21][22]

Stance against teaching suspected terrorists the value of tolerance

In August 2009, HRW criticized Saudi Arabia for teaching suspected Al Qaeda terrorists the value of tolerance. The Saudi reeducation program, which has been praised by the United States, teaches the detainees that the ideology of Al Qaeda is a corruption of Islam. Nevertheless, HRW is against the program saying, "human rights law does not permit the detention of persons to undergo a reeducation program."[23]

References

  1. ^ a b Steve Miller and Joseph Curl (2004). "Aristide accuses U.S. of forcing his ouster". Washington Times. Retrieved 2005-12-26.
  2. ^ a b "Aristide related articles". Democracy Now. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
  3. ^ a b Emersberger, Joe (2006-03-29). "Haiti and Human Rights Watch". Z Communications. Archived from the original on 2009-08-11. Retrieved 2009-08-11. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Greg Grandin, Miguel Tinker-Salas and Greg Wilpert Respond to HRW’s Kenneth Roth’s Riposte on Venezuelan Human Rights
  5. ^ http://www.hrw.org/en/node/64174/section/1
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ Anti-Semitism in Europe: Fighting Back,Anti-Defamation League
  8. ^ http://www.ngo-monitor.org/editions/v3n08/HumanRightsWatchNeedsWatching.htm
  9. ^ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/daniel-levy/the-swiftboating-of-human_b_241634.html
  10. ^ http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=1&cid=1246443832672&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FshowFull
  11. ^ http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1157913657154&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
  12. ^ http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1232643745914
  13. ^ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124528343805525561.html
  14. ^ http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:p6u71hejS28J:www.antidef.org.au/secure/downloadfile.asp%3Ffileid%3D1010330+anti+semitism+%2B+%22Human+Rights+Watch+%22&hl=en
  15. ^ http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1248277865531&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
  16. ^ Keinon, Herb. "Diplomacy: Israel vs. Human Rights Watch." Jerusalem Post. 18 July 2009. 18 July 2009.
  17. ^ http://jeffreygoldberg.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/07/fundraising_corruption_at_huma.php
  18. ^ Bernstein, David. "Human Rights Watch Goes to Saudi Arabia." The Wall Street Journal. 15 July 2009. 15 July 2009.
  19. ^ a b c "Human Rights Watch Visit to Saudi Arabia". Human Rights Watch.
  20. ^ http://www.counterpunch.org/cook11302006.html
  21. ^ http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/article.php?pg=11&ar=700
  22. ^ http://www.normanfinkelstein.com/article.php?pg=11&ar=700#rdrl
  23. ^ Murphy, Caryle. "Rights group criticizes Saudi Arabia's Al Qaeda reeducation program." The Christian Science Monitor. 10 August 2009. 11 August 2009.

See also

External links