Mexico governor upbraided for comment on indigenous women

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s National Human Rights Commission has criticized the governor of the central state of Hidalgo for using “inappropriate language” when he told indigenous women to sleep with clothes on to avoid having so many children.

The commission told Gov. Omar Fayad Friday that politicians should respect the right of citizens, especially Indians, to have as many children as they desire.

The governor was recorded on Wednesday during a public appearance in a heavily indigenous town for a ceremony marking the delivery of environmentally responsible stoves. According to the commission, Fayed told the largely female crowd, “I told you to sleep with your clothes on, you produce a lot of children.”

In a joking tone, Fayad suggested the town’s stoves wore out because local families have so many children.