Many Western governments see this year’s conference as “marred by Muslim attempts to attack Israel and shield Islam from criticism.” [4] Israel, Canada and Italy declared that they are going to boycott the conference by not sending a representative to Geneva. [5] The U.S. will also boycott the UN session as elements of the current meeting's draft text continue to pose significant concerns.[6] After a delegation from the Obama administration attended a preliminary meeting in Geneva and declared the "meeting's documents unfocused, hostile to Israel and essentially not salvageable," [7] substantial improvements have been made including shortening the document, removing all language that singled out any one country or conflict, and removing language that embraced the concept of "defamation of religion" and that demanded reparations for slavery, the U.S. noted. [8] But the changes have apparently not been sufficient to win President Obama's support for taking part. [9]

President Ahmadinejad, a Holocaust denier,[10] will be in Geneva during Yom HaShoah, the international Holocaust Day of Remembrance on April 21, 2009. The date is chosen to correspond to the to Warsaw Ghetto Uprising according to the Hebrew calendar. [11] Yom HaShoah will be commemorated in Geneva on the evening of April 20 at the Place des Nations in front of the UN. Thousands are expected to attend. Speakers include Nobel Prize laureate Elie Wiesel, Bernard Henri-Levy and Irwin Cotler.

Human rights situation in Iran

While the official conference goal is to work “toward equality for every individual and group in all regions and countries of the world” [12] Iran, a country that is constantly abusing human rights, will be a key participant and its President will address the gathering.

Since Ahmadinejad took power in 2005, the human rights situation in Iran has deteriorated dramatically. [13]

• Iran has the second highest number of executions in the world. [14]

• Iran has the largest number of public hangings and executions. [15]

• In February 2008, Iran has issued a draft penal code stipulating death penalty for apostasy (rejection of religion), heresy and witchcraft. [16] Imposing death penalty for changing religion represents a violation of one of the most fundamental human rights: The right to freedom of religion, which is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and in the European Convention of Human Rights. [17]

• Baha’is, Iran’s largest religious minority, are not recognized in the Islamic Republic. They face continuous harassment and persecution. [18]

• Iranian authorities suppress freedom of expression, speech and opinion by imprisoning journalists and controlling publishing as well as academic activities. The Iranian regime systematically blocks Iranian and foreign Internet websites carrying political news and analysis. [19]

In December 2008, the UN passed a resolution expressing “deep concern at serious human rights violations” in the Islamic Republic. [20]