Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism

The Special Envoy To Monitor and Combat Antisemitism (SEAS) of the US government develops and implements policies and projects to support efforts to combat antisemitism.

Deborah E. Lipstadt, BA, M.A., was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on March 30, 2022 as the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, with the rank of Ambassador.

In an U.S. National Statement for the OSCE Conference on Addressing Antisemitism in the OSCE Region, the SEAS claimed among other things, that:

“

Before closing, it is important to voice a serious religious freedom concern affecting Jewish, as well as Muslim, communities in some OSCE participating States. Some countries already have laws, and in others legislation has been proposed, banning ritual animal slaughter. Bans on the fundamental practice of non-medical circumcision have also been entertained from time to time. Such bans on religious practices have deeply negative impacts not just on these communities, but on broader free and inclusive societies. In October, I was pleased to be present in Brussels for a high-level EU-hosted Ministerial meeting regarding the efforts of some European countries to pass laws banning religious slaughter with no exemption for religious and cultural practices. While it is not necessarily an issue of antisemitism – the motivation for these laws is more often related to promoting animal welfare – any time conditions are created that make it difficult if not impossible for Jews to live in a community, particularly in Europe with its history of devastation of Jews, it could ultimately be perceived as an act of antisemitism. It certainly is an issue of right to freedom of religion or belief, which is enshrined in many European countries’ constitutions, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and international law. It is incumbent upon all of us to safeguard the human rights of all people. – Aaron Keyak, Deputy SEAS

IntactiWiki comment:

Ms. Lipstadt and Mr. Keyak mistakenly believe that child genital mutilation is a religious right. The human rights, which they also support, say the opposite. If you want to protect human rights for all people, you must not ignore children. They are not objects of fulfillment for religious parents. Therefore, banning religiously motivated genital mutilation is anything but anti-Semitic. There is no right whatsoever to harm the bodies of other people, let alone defenseless children, for religious or cultural reasons.

External links

• Official website. Retrieved 23 March 2023