UN Chief Urged to Fire Official for Promoting 911 Conspiracy

*GENEVA, January 20, 2011* - U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon was urged today to fire an official of the world body who endorsed the conspiracy theory that the 9/11 terrorist attacks were orchestrated by the U.S. government and not Al Qaeda terrorists.

In a blog post last week, Richard Falk, the U.N. Human Rights Council's permanent investigator on the Palestinian territories, endorsed the "authoritative" book by 9/11 conspiracy theorist David Ray Griffin, and wrote of an “apparent cover up.” He said that the mainstream media was “unwilling to acknowledge the well-evidenced doubts about the official version of the events: an al Qaeda operation with no foreknowledge by government officials.”

UN Watch, an independent Geneva-based watchdog organization, called on Ban Ki-moon to condemn the remarks, recalling that in September he had condemned Iran's President Ahmadinejad for saying the same. Noting that Falk has made similar statements numerous times before, the NGO called on the UN chief to remove him from his post.

*/See full letter below./*

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His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-Moon Secretary-General The United Nations New York, NY 10017

January 20, 2011

Dear Mr. Secretary-General,

This past September, after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad suggested that the 9/11 attacks were orchestrated by the U.S. government, you admirably said, “I strongly condemn the comments made yesterday by a leader of a delegation that called into question the cause of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. It is unacceptable for the platform of the General Assembly of the United Nations to be misused in this way.”

We trust that you will show the same vigilance, if not more, regarding virtually identical comments made by the U.N.’s own officials. Richard Falk, the U.N. Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur on Palestine, has just called into question the cause of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We urge you to strongly condemn Mr. Falk’s offensive remarks—and, given that he has done this numerous times before—to immediately remove him from his post.

In a recent posting <
on his blog concerning the 9/11 attacks, Mr. Falk wrote of an “apparent cover up.” He said that the mainstream media was “unwilling to acknowledge the well-evidenced doubts about the official version of the events: an al Qaeda operation with no foreknowledge by government officials.”[1] <

Falk praised the books of David Ray Griffin, whom he called a “devoted scholar of high integrity.” He described Griffin’s book, /The New Pearl Harbor/, as “authoritative.” In fact, this is a leading conspiracy tract which argues that the World Trade Center was not attacked by terrorists or by airplanes—but rather destroyed in “an inside job” and by a “controlled demolition.” Falk actually wrote the forward to this book, and played a key role in its publication.

The effect of Mr. Falk’s conspiracy-mongering is to deny and excuse the terrorist acts committed by Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda. It insults the memories of those who perished on 9/11, and deeply offends their families and loved ones -- as well as all decent men and women worldwide. Mr. Falk’s repulsive comments violate UNHRC Resolution 5/2, which require U.N. experts to uphold the highest standards of integrity, probity, and good faith. Indeed, they shame the United Nations.

As you said in September, it is unacceptable for the platform of the United Nations to be misused in this way.

Accordingly, we urge you to immediately condemn Mr. Falk’s remarks and see that he is removed from his post.

Please know that in all your efforts to assure the adherence of the United Nations to its noble principles, you will have the full support of UN Watch.

Sincerely,

Hillel C. Neuer Executive Director UN Watch Geneva, Switzerland

ENDS

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