The National Association for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms condemns the exploitation of UN platforms in the case of the child Yassin

The National Association for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms is following with grave concern the events that transpired during a session of the Minorities Conference at a UN-affiliated facility, where certain entities exploited UN platforms to present misleading claims concerning the case of the child Yassin. They attempted to transform this case from a serious sexual assault crime, resolved by a final judicial ruling, into a narrative with a sectarian dimension, bearing no relation to reality or justice.

These entities, presenting themselves as “United Copts – Britain,” “The Coptic European Authority in Austria,” and “The Word of Reconciliation Organization – Canada,” displayed images of the convicted defendant in the case of the sexual assault of the child Yassin, presenting him as a “victim of religious persecution.” This completely disregards established judicial facts, despite the issuance of a final verdict convicting him after a fair trial before the Egyptian judiciary, which provided all guarantees of a fair trial.

The National Association for the Defense of Rights and Freedoms affirms that the case of the child Yassin, since its discovery and the commencement of the investigation, Throughout all stages of the trial and up to the final verdicts, the case was not viewed from any religious or sectarian perspective. It was, and remains, a criminal case concerning a grave violation of the child’s rights and the sanctity of his childhood, punishable under Egyptian law. It constitutes a clear violation of international conventions and standards for the protection of children, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its optional protocols.

The attempt to portray the convicted perpetrator as a “religiously persecuted” individual represents a blatant distortion of the facts and a double assault on justice and the child’s rights, in addition to being an illegitimate exploitation of a UN platform that is supposed to be neutral and independent.

The association believes that what occurred represents: 1. A political exploitation of a UN platform to unlawfully challenge a final judicial ruling.
2. A reprehensible distortion of a serious criminal case into a sectarian conflict.
3. Indirect interference in internal judicial matters that have been resolved according to the law.
4. A violation of the principle of neutrality and independence to which UN platforms are bound under the UN Charter.
5. Damage to the credibility of the United Nations by presenting a narrative contrary to the judicial facts.
The association announces its intention to address the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The Association calls upon the UN Human Rights Council and its Special Rapporteurs to take all necessary measures to prevent the exploitation of UN platforms for racist purposes or to circumvent violations in the name of religion, and to ensure the protection of children’s rights and prevent their political or sectarian manipulation.

The Association also demands the following:
1. An urgent UN investigation into the incident of displaying images of the convicted defendant and misleading claims on the international platform.
2. Determining institutional responsibility for allowing this misuse of the UN platform.
3. Taking measures to prevent the recurrence of exploiting UN platforms to distort facts or politicize criminal cases.
4. Reaffirming respect for the final judicial rulings of member states and protecting children’s rights in all international forums.
The Association concludes its statement by emphasizing that the rights of the child Yassin are paramount and transcend any political or sectarian considerations, and that the crime committed against him constitutes a flagrant violation of human dignity and international legal norms. It must not be transformed into a narrative serving agendas outside the framework of justice and the law.