EU politicians guilty of ‘shameful bigotry’, says UN Human Rights Commissioner

Many of Europe’s politicians are guilty of “shameful bigotry and xenophobia”, the UN Human Rights Commissioner, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein told journalists in a press conference referring to the refugee crisis.

The UN security council and others could have done more to arrest the conflicts such as in Syria, but xenophobia and racism are on the rise in many parts of the world, fuelled by the rhetoric of hate.

He warned over what he said was worrying backsliding in Hungary and Poland over the rule of law, and he referenced moves against free speech, civil rights bodies, and the displacement of refugees in Hungary.