CLASH AT THE UN: “Expert” who took $100k from China calls UN Watch a “champion of antisemitism”

George Katrougalos, the chair of the committee overseeing all UN human rights experts, absurdly called UN Watch a “champion of antisemitism” after Hillel Neuer challenged why Katrougalous accepted a $100,000 donation from China and then completely omitted China's victims from his latest report. China also lashed out, accusing UN Watch of malicious smears and saying that Taiwan, Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong are “purely China's internal affairs.” Full speech text: "Mr. President, Thank you for allowing us to pose several questions to the Expert. Mr. Katrougalos, your report mentions China 33 times. At page 9, you say China is a “central actor” defending international order; Xi Jinping is the “new guardian of global rules for free trade”; and Chinese discourse “closely aligns” with the UN Charter and “peaceful co-existence.” At page 10, you recite numerous Chinese initiatives, that contribute, and I quote, ‘to the enjoyment of alll human rights.’ Mr. Katrougalos, we ask: if your report is truly about human rights, then where are China’s victims? Where are the million Uyghurs subjected to mass detention, forced labour, and religious persecution? Where are the Tibetans whose culture, language and religion Beijing systematically crushes? Where are Hong Kong’s imprisoned democracy activists, such as 78-year-old Jimmy Lai? Where are the human rights lawyers, journalists, dissidents, and religious minorities jailed across China? Where is Beijing’s mass censorship? Its surveillance state? Its threats against Taiwan? Mr. Katrougalos, one fifth of humanity are denied free elections, free speech and basic political rights. Why does none of this appear in your account of China’s contribution to a “democratic and equitable” world order? Now, you also chair the UN committee overseeing all human rights experts — and the UN disclosed that China chose to donate $100,000 to your mandate. Why did Beijing choose you? What exactly did its money finance? Did it support this report? Who funded your two trips to China, mentioned on Page 2? Will you acknowledge that such funding creates a conflict? Will you commit today that all China’s money will be returned?”