In Odd Twist NZ Votes Against UN Resolution Condemning Nazi Glorification
November 7, 2022
The resolution expresses concern about glorifying Nazism, neo-Nazism and former Waffen SS members, and condemns the construction of monuments and the holding of public ceremonies honoring the Third Reich. Introducing the resolution, the Russian delegate referenced an increase in xenophobia, anti-migrant sentiment, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism, among other forms of discrimination.
The US and several of its allies explained their vote against the measure by claiming Russia was exploiting Nazi atrocities to justify its military operation in Ukraine, and insisted that joining Moscow in condemning the lionization of Nazis would amount to helping the Kremlin weaponize the Holocaust.
The UK accused Moscow of “furthering lies and distorting history,” while acknowledging it was using “legitimate human rights concerns raised by neo-Nazism mobilization” to justify its activities in Ukraine. The US went further, arguing that Russia’s “pretextual use of fighting neo-Nazism undermines genuine attempts to combat neo-Nazism.” And Ukraine claimed Moscow’s anti-Nazism message had “nothing in common with the genuine fight against Nazism and neo-Nazism,” which Kiev stressed it condemned in all forms.
Indeed an odd choice from a NZ Govt that’s continually looking for ways to impose vaguely defined hate speech laws that it could certainly exploit against its own Citizens.