The United Nations’ much-maligned Humans Right Council is organizing Durban II, so it’s small wonder that the planning is proceeding as it has. In a recent council session, a speaker asked to bring up a particularly egregious human rights problem: genital mutilation of women. Egypt objected mightily, demanding: “We will not discuss issues related to Sharia law; this will not happen.” He thundered on, joined by a colleague from Pakistan, until the item was dropped.

Sharia, of course, is canonical law based on the teachings of the Quran and the traditions of Mohammed. I wasn’t aware that it advocated genital mutilation.

(Via an emailer.)

Respondents in three countries favoured taking the Palestinian side (not surprisingly these were Egypt, Iran, and Turkey). India remained divided. No country favoured taking Israel’s side, including the United States, where 71 percent favor taking neither side.

A majority of people in Muslim majority countries (Indonesia, Nigeria and Azerbaijan), rejected taking sides, as did the EU countries covered by the survey (Britain, France, Spain).

There was also significant support for the UN to be more involved through the use of peacekeepers.

(Via Glenn Greenwald, who also discusses what these sorts of views mean for American politics.)

This follows claims that abuses by Indian and Pakistani soldiers were ‘watered down’ by the UN for fear of offending two of the biggest contributors to its peacekeeping missions.