Saudi Arabia Condemns Norway’s Human Rights Record

Saudi Arabia criticises Norway over human rights record

"Saudi Arabia has criticised Norway's human rights record, accusing the country of failing to protect its Muslim citizens and not doing enough to counter criticism of the prophet Mohammed.

The gulf state called for all criticism of religion and of prophet Mohammed to be made illegal in Norway. It also expressed concern at “increasing cases of domestic violence, rape crimes and inequality in riches” and noted a continuation of hate crimes against Muslims in the country.

The Scandinavian nation came under scrutiny during the United Nations' Universal Periodic Review, in which 14 States are scheduled to have their human rights records examined.

Russia meanwhile called for Norway to clamp down on expressions of religious intolerance and and criticised the country’s child welfare system. They also recommended that Norway improve its correctional facilities for those applying for asylum status.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Børge Brende was in Geneva to hear the concerns from 91 other countries. He told Norway's NTB newswire prior to the hearing: “It is a paradox that countries which do not support fundamental human rights have influence on the council, but that is the United Nations,” reported The Local.

Human Rights Watch last report noted that in 2012 Saudi Arabia "stepped up arrests and trials of peaceful dissidents, and responded with force to demonstrations by citizens."

It continued "Authorities continue to suppress or fail to protect the rights of 9 million Saudi women and girls and 9 million foreign workers. As in past years, thousands of people have received unfair trials or been subject to arbitrary detention. The year has seen trials against half-a-dozen human rights defenders and several others for their peaceful expression or assembly demanding political and human rights reforms.""


In figures cited and endorsed by both The American Muslim and Islamophobia Watch, a police report "Voldtekt i den globale byen" (Rape in the global city) on Oslo rape statistics in 2010 reports that in 45.8% of rapes where the perpetrator was charged, he was of African, Middle Eastern or Asian origin.

According to the Council of Europe, in 2012 27% of the population of Oslo had "origins outside Norway".

Oslo's population was 613,000 in 2012 so 27% is 165,510. Returning to the Council of Europe figures, among the top 20 countries of origin for minorities, European countries account for 43,672 people. So at most 20% of Oslo's 2012 population was of African, Middle Eastern or Asian origin, so they are overrepresented by a factor of at least two

I'm not sure the staistics are as comforting as The American Muslim and Islamophobia Watch think.