HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES - MIDDLE EAST

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Activists Decry Worsening Arab Human Rights Record
“The Islamic charter for human rights must be revised. The Sharia (Islamic jurisprudence) must be revised to include universal interpretations of human rights”.

CASABLANCA (Reuters) - Human rights activists said Friday that violations in the Arab world had soared in the 1990s with the rise of Islamic militancy and worsening economic conditions.
With few exceptions, human rights records in Arab countries continued to deteriorate, with more clampdowns on freedom of expression, less popular representation and harsher repression of opposition groups, they said at an international conference on Arab rights which started in Casablanca Friday.
“The final statement of account of the transformations in the political and rights conditions is a minus,” activists from 15 Arab countries and several international rights organizations said in a draft communique.
“This is not only in comparison to the rest of the world, but even to the Arab World itself in the eighties,” said the draft communique, a copy of which was made available to Reuters.
It said some participants attributed the worsening human rights situation to violent tactics used by both the national authorities and radical Islamist groups trying to install regimes in countries like Algeria and Egypt.
Others believe the reason was worsening poverty in many Arab countries with the enforcement of economic and social policies under the supervision of international monetary institutions.
“Still, some attribute this retreat to deep-rooted anti-democratic tendencies of the Arab ruling elites,” it added.
Moroccan Prime Minister Abderrahmane El Youssoufi also blamed Western indifference, which he said left “democrats and human rights activists between the hammer of government policies and the anvil of civil strife.”
“Violations of human rights have given rise to political problems, leading to a crisis of legitimacy,” said Youssoufi, who spent nearly four decades in prison and exile before forming Morocco’s first Socialist-led government last year.
Morocco, which began cleaning what officials said was its “black” human rights record, was singled out for praise along with Qatar, which last year became the first Gulf Arab country to allow women to vote in legislative elections.
The harshest criticism was leveled at the Iraqi government of President Saddam Hussein for “excessive resort to grave human rights violations, including mass executions and other manifestations of inhuman ruthlessness.”
“The case of Iraq continues as an extreme example of tyranny,” the communique said.
But it also called for an “immediate and unconditional” lifting of United Nations sanctions imposed on Baghdad since its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, saying the sanctions affected only the Iraqi people and not the rulers.
Of particular concern to the activists was what they called the Arab governments’ use of Islam to reject calls for reforms, especially in the political, economic and judicial fields.
“The Islamic charter for human rights must be revised. The Sharia (Islamic jurisprudence) must be revised” to include universal interpretations of human rights, said Patrick Baudouin, president of the Paris-based International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH).
Bahiddine Hassan, director of the Cairo Center for Human Rights Studies, said 13 Arab countries, citing “Islam’s specificity,” have expressed reservations on “International Human Rights Instruments” approved in December to mark the 50th anniversary of the human rights declaration.
“Only 26 countries in the world expressed reservations on the instruments. We represented half of the universe…What an honor,” Hassan said.

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AbdulMalick quotes:

“[S]ome participants attributed the worsening human rights situation to”:

  1. “[V]iolent tactics used by * both * the national authorities and radical Islamist groups trying to install regimes in countries…”
  2. “[W]orsening poverty in many Arab countries with the enforcement of economic and social policies under the supervision of international monetary institutions *.”
  3. “[D]eep-rooted anti-democratic tendencies of the Arab ruling elite.”
  4. “…Western indifference.”

From this list it is quite apparent that Islam is not the sole cause of the “worsening human rights situation” in the Middle East. Many factors contribute to the stifling of human rights in this part of the world. All four factors have political, economic and social ramifications. Only the first deals specifically with Islamic revival (nevertheless it is an important factor). The dynamics between national authorities, most ruled by corrupt despots and their interactions with Islamist groups has led to conditions of worsening human rights. More accurately, ** a combination of the four factors ** has led to a decline in individual freedoms and rights. The article does not zero in on one factor (i.e. Islamist groups and revival) and even correctly chastizes the UN for imposing sanctions on Iraq which have increased human rights abuses in that country, rather than alleviating them.

AbdulMalick quotes: “The Islamic charter for human rights must be revised. The Sharia (Islamic jurisprudence) must be revised” to include ** universal interpretations of human rights ** , said Patrick Baudouin, president of the Paris-based International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH)." (emphasis mine)

Its important to make two notes here:

  1. The Sharia, where implemented in the Muslim world today, serves the purpose of legitimating and encouraging the maintenance of ruling powers. It has become a political instrument, used by the elite to maintain power and effectively dis-empower opponents or opposition.
  2. There is an argument here for cultural relativists. Are human rights ** universal ** or is there such a thing as culturally specific human rights. Who dictates what is a human right? Who is the authority (i.e. the US, or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)? And how can such rights be enforced on an international level?

The Islamic charter for human rights is a carefully crafted document. It is very carefully worded. Often citing the implementation of human rights, in light of the Islamic Shariah - whose interpretation of the Sharia is uncertain? There should be an effort made by Muslim countries to re-examine the Islamic charter for Human Rights and to re-examine the Sharia. Where countries have opted out of signing Universal declarations, they have cited religious specificity, in particular in relation to gender issues. They should re-examine their positions.

In my opinion, once a cultural practice infringes on the rights of others (i.e. hurts others, emotionally, mentally or physically) it should be examined, evaluated and if necessary abandoned. The goal should be to preserve the healthy functioning of the whole, maintaining the integrity of the whole, but not at the expense of others. How to enforce ‘universal’ human rights, I don’t know. International organizations seem to be failing with flying colors. Smaller NGOs are only capable of building awareness. Local initiatives are successful in some cases, but the entire process is frustrating at best. International powers seem to define the rights, than play the role of enforcer, often ignoring cases of abuses in exchange for political and economic ties and at the expense of the marginalized. Other times the international community implements flawed instruments to encourage the ‘democratization’ of regions and the subsequent improvement in human right conditions, however this is done at the expense of innocent people (i.e. Iraq).

Thanks for posting the article.

Achtung ;)*

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Muslim countries of Africa will be featured under the caption of Middle-East. The purpose of this and other captions dealing with the issue of human rights is to increase awareness and inform readers.

CORONA DEL MAR, Calif., April 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Christian Solidarity International (CSI), a Christian human rights organization, redeemed 1,783 black African slaves during a fact-finding trip to Northern Bahr El Ghazal, Sudan, on April 12-17, 1999. The slaves, mainly women and children, had been captured as war booty by the armed forces of the Government of Sudan (GOS), in particular by the Popular Defence Force (PDF) during raids on villages in the borderlands between Northern and Southern Sudan. The GOS conducts such raids as an instrument of the jihad (Islamic holy war) it has consistently declared against the ethnic and religious minorities who resist its policies of forced Islamization and Arabization.
The 1,783 slaves were redeemed by CSI from four different networks of Arab slave retrievers, for a fee of 50,000 Sudanese pounds ($50 US), per slave. The redemptions took place in Aweil East and Twic Counties. The freeing of these slaves was undertaken in accordance with local Arab-Black African peace agreements. Since 1995, CSI's Slave Redemption Program has freed 7,725 slaves.
Interviews with redeemed slaves confirmed a well-established pattern of severe physical and psychological torture, including exemplary executions, beatings, rape, female genital excision, forced conversions and unpaid labor.
35-year-old Adior Ajang Jongkor was enslaved for two years. Her master, Ali from the village of Shetef gave her the Arab name 'Howah' and forced her to perform domestic labor. Ali repeatedly raped Adior and slashed her with a knife when she resisted his advances. Her body is now covered with scars.
25-year-old Nyanut Aquer Mayen was enslaved in 1997. She witnessed the death of ten children from thirst and the execution of three young men as her slave caravan was forced to march to the North. Her master, Mahmoud, frequently raped her. Nyanut now has a baby as a result of this sexual abuse. Her master gave her the name 'Howesa'. Mahmoud's wife often beat Nyanut with a bamboo stick and called her insulting names, in Arabic the equivalent of 'nigger' and 'slave'.
Further evidence of PDF slave raids, including the enslavement of 2,604 and the murder of 181 people, has been published this month by the UN in a 63-page document (Rapid Assessment Report, Rapid Assessment of Affected locations in Twic, Awil East, Aweil West and Wau Counties, Carried out Between March 13th and 25th, 1999, by UNICEF/OLS Rapid Assessment Team, Lokichoggio, April 1999).
On April 8, 1999, the Popular Defence Force attacked villages near the town of Nyamllel. Initial reports from local officials indicate that the PDF enslaved women and children, and looted livestock and grain.
While addressing the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva on April 7, 1999, the Sudanese Justice Minister, Ali Mohamed Osman Yassin announced the initiation of criminal cases against CSI because if its redemption of slaves. Yassin has threatened to disrupt humanitarian assistance to needy civilians unless the Commission condemns CSI and UNICEF retracts its confirmation of slavery in Sudan.
CSI is committed to continuing its Slave Redemption Program until such time as either slavery is abolished in Sudan, or the international community creates more effective retrieval mechanisms. In addition, CSI trusts the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, the Commission, and those directing the UN's relief efforts in Sudan, will not be intimidated by the threats of the Government of Sudan.
Christian Solidarity International is a Christian human rights organization for the religious liberty of religious repression, victimized children and victims of disaster. Revd. Hans Stuckelberger founded CSI in 1977, following silent demonstrations in support of persecuted Christians.

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Thank you Abdulmalick

You could not have made your hatred of Islam any clearer than by posting this article. The true purpose of the Qadianis exposed once again. History has a habit of repeating itself don't you think?

"Christian Solidarity International is a Christian human rights organization for the religious liberty of religious repression, victimized children and victims of disaster. Revd. Hans Stuckelberger founded CSI in 1977, following silent demonstrations in support of persecuted Christians."

Christian Missionary groups and "Human Rights" organisations have an interesting history in regard to their role during colonisation of the world by European nations. I will come back to this subject when I have more time but your source has been duly noted.

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Xtreme ( as in Extremist):
This is the second time you have tried to call me a Qadiani - normally, I would just let it slide. However, in this case you are trying to imply that any critics of Fundamentalist Islam is a Qadiani and should be trashed on this Forum. I'll have you know that I am muslim and from a very well-respected muslim family. Do I care if I get labelled 'non-believer', 'kufr', etc, etc. by extremists on this Forum ---- you gotta be joking!
Let me see if I have this correct: you're saying that the above article on Sudan is false and muslim attrocities and slave-takking does not happen in Sudan or any other place. Just like you replied to my post: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST WOMEN, that the Afghani females are and I quote you - "our mother, sisters & daughters" and that the Taleban abuse of both Islam & women has no merit and is a western fabrication ---this is what you are saying, aren't you?
I look forward to reading the rest of your rebuttal.

[This message has been edited by Adbulmalick (edited April 30, 1999).]

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Thank You abdulmalick
I was sick and tired of this guys attitude. He thinks that whatever he think is right and who ever is not agreed with him is a Kafir. I don't care either what he will thinks about me. I am born muslim and I am proud of it.

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aDbulmaliCK,

I do not give two hoots for your Christian Missionary fabrication. I don't care if you get your information from Lesbian Weekly or the British Colonial Review. They all have an agenda just like you do. In a world where muslims are being subjected to genocide you are only willing to talk about "muslim atrocities". You are a FAKE. If you are not a Qadiani then tell us what you are. You are definitely an Ahmadi as you have already said so in another post. I invite you to describe the difference in viewpoint between your belief and the Qadiani.

Mtanweer,

I don't decide who is Kafir, that is done by the respected Ulema who make judgement according to Qur'an and Hadith. That is how it has remained through the centuries that Islam has flourished and the links to this Ijma can never be broken no matter how hard the opponents of this Deen may scheme.

You say you are a proud muslim. Proud of what? Care to clarify?

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For Mtanweer,

You say that I go round calling everyone a Kafir who doesn't agree with me so I thought I'd remind you of what Mirza Ahmed thought about people who didn't agree with him.

"God has revealed to me that anyone to whom my message has reached and he has not accepted me , he is not a muslim."
(Letter of Mirza to Dr. Abdul Hakeem Khan Patialvi)

"I have God’s inspiration that 'he who does not follow you and will not enter your Ba’ith and remain your opponent, he is disobedient of God and His Prophet, Hellish."
(Advertisement in M’ayaar-ul-Akhyar by Mirza Ghulam p.8)

"Thus remember as God has informed me, it is forbidden and absolutely forbidden to pray behind any disbeliever and hesitant; but is should be that your imam should be one of you."
(Arba’een No 3, Roohani Khazain vol.17 p.417

Some one asked a question and Mirza has replied to it. Both are mentioned in his book, Haqeeqat-ul-Wahi. I quote:

"Question: Huzoor-e-aali has mentioned in thousands of places that it is not at all right to call KAFIR a Kalima-go (one who recites a Kalima) and an Ahle-Qibla. It is quite obvious that except those Mo’mineen who become Kafir by rejecting you, just by not accepting you no one becomes a Kafir. But you write to Abdul Hakeem Khan that anyone who has recieved my message and he has not accepted me, he is not muslim. There is contradiction between this statement and the statements in previous books. Earlier in ‘Tiryaq-ul-Quloob’ etc. you had mentioned that no one becomes Kafir by not accepting you and now you are writing that ‘by rejecting me he becomes a Kafir.’

Answer: This is strange that you consider the person who rejects me and the person who calls me Kafir as two different persons, whereas in the eyes of God he is the same type; because he who does not accept me is because he considers me a fabricator.... apart from this, he who does not accept me, he does not believe in God and His Prophet as well, because there is God’s and his Prophet’s prophecy regarding me”"
(Haqeeqat-ul-Wahi, Roohani Khazain vol.22 p.167)

"It is our obligation that we do not consider non-ahmadis as muslims and do not pray behind them, because for us they have rejected one prophet (Mirza Ghulam) of God. This is a religious matter and no one has any right to do anything in it."
(Anwar-e-Khilafat, by Mirza Mahmood, Khalifa 2, p.90)

"All muslims who are included in the initiation of Maseeh Mowood, even if they have not heard the name of Maseeh Mowood, they are Kafir and out of the fold of Islam. I admit that these are my beliefs."
(Aina-e-Sadaqat, by Mirza Mahmood, 2nd Khalifa, p.35)

"Every one who accepts Moses but not Eisa or accepts Eisa but not Muhammad or accepts Muhammad but not Maseeh Mowood, he is not only Kafir but a hardened Kafir and is out of the fold of Islam.
(Kalimat-alFasl by Mirza Basheer Ahmad s/o Mirza Ghulam p.110)

Question: "Is it permitted to say ‘May God Bless the departed soul, forgive him and send him to Paradise’ for a person who was not included in Ahmadiyyat?"

Answer: "The KUFR of non-Ahmadis is proven by evident signs and it is not permitted to ask for forgiveness for non-believers (KUFFAR)."
(Al-Fazl Qadian vol.8, No. 59, 7th Feb 1921)

"Non-Ahmadis are the disbelievers therefore their funeral prayers should not be offered, but if an infant of non-ahmadi dies, why should we not pray his funeral prayer, he is not a disbeliever of Maseeh Mowood? I ask the inquirer, that if this is true than why don’t we offer funeral prayer of a Hindu or a Christian child? How many people offer their funeral prayer?"
(Anwar-e-Khilafat, Mirza Mahmood, 2nd Khalifa, p.93)

"It is the order of Hazrat Maseeh Mowood and firm order that no ahmadi should give his daughter to non-ahmadi. It is obligatory on every ahmadi to carry it out..... there is great loss in it, besides this marriage is not permitted."
(Barakat-e-Khilafat by Mirza Mehmood p.73)

"Our prayers are separate from Non-ahmadis, it is forbidden to give our girls to them, we are stopped to offer their funeral prayers. Now what is left that we can participate with them? There are only two kinds of relations - religious and worldly. For religious relations, it is the gathering for prayers and for worldly relations, it is the marriage and both are forbidden for us."
(Mirza Basheer Ahmad s/o Mirza Ghulam, Kalimat alFasl p.169)

"The point is now quite clear. If it is 'Kufr' (infedility) to deny the Gracious Prophet (Muhammad pbuh), it must also be 'Kufr' to deny the Promised Messiah, because the Promised Messiah is in no way a separate being from the Gracious Prophet; rather he is the same (Muhammad incarnate). If anyone is not deemed a Kafir for denying the Promised Messiah, then anyone else who denies the Gracious Prophet also cannot be considered a Kafir. How is it possible that denying him in his first birth as Prophet should be regarded as Kufr, but denying him in his (reincarnated) second birth as prophet should not be regarded as Kufr, when, as claimed by the Promised Messiah, his (Mirza's birth as Muhammad incarnate) spiritual attainment is stronger, complete and severe."
(Kalimatul Fasl, pages 146-147, as cited in the Review of Religions, dated March-April 1915)

"Any person who believes in Moses but does not believe in Christ, or believes in Christ but does not believe in Muhammad, or believes in Muhammad but does not believe in the Promised Messiah, is not only a Kafir, but a 'pakka' (confirmed) Kafir, and (he is) out of the fold of Islam."
(Kalimatul Fasl, page 110, by Mirza Bashir Ahmad, M.A.)

"All such Muslims who did not swear allegiance to the promised Masih (Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian), even though they did not hear the name of the Promised Masih, are Kafir and debarred from the fold of Islam."
(Aiena-e-Sadaqat, page 35, by Mirza Mahmud Ahmad Qadiani).

"Allah has revealed to me that he who does not follow me and does not give me his oath of allegiance and remains in opposition is disobeying the will of Allah and His Rasul and is Jahannami (doomed to Hell)."
("Baraheen Ahmadiyya", Vol. 5, Pages 82-83, Mirza Ghulam Qadiani)

"All those Muslims who do not enter the fold of the Promised Messiah, whether or not they have heard of Messiah (Mirza Ghulam Qadiani) are considered Kafirs and are beyond the pale of Islam."
("Aeena-e-Sadaqat", Page 9, By Bashir-uddin Mahmud)

"He (Mirza Ghulam Qadiani) has regarded him as an infidel who knows him to be truthful and does not believe him in speech but has not yet entered the fold."
("Tashi-ul-Azhan", 6:4, Apr. 1911, Miyan Mahmood Qadiani - "Aqaid-e-Ahmadia", Page 108)

"A man once asked the first caliph of the Messiah (Hakim Nuruddin Sahib) whether it was possible to attain salvation without having faith in mirza Sahib? He replied: 'If the Word of God is based on truth, it is not possible to attain salvation without having faith in Mirza Sahib."
("Aa'ina-e-Sadaqat", Page 25, Miyan Mahmood Ahmad Qadiani)

"The fifth tenet that is binding upon my sect in this erase is that you should not give your daughters to non-Ahmadis. He who gives his daughter to a non-Ahmadi does not know what Ahmadiat is. Do you find non-Ahmadis giving their daughters to Hindus or Christians? Non-Ahmadis are, according to our faith Kafir, but they are better than you in this respect. In spite of being Kafirs themselves, they do not give their daughters to Kafirs but you, in spite of being Ahmadi, give your daughters to non-believers."
("Malaika-tullah", Page 46; by Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud)

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Xtreme,
Let me answer your first question, you want to know what I beleive. Thats what my faith is
1. Kalama Tayiba
2. Namaz
3. Rozaah
4. Zakat
5. Haj

I beileve in

  1. In Allah
  2. All the Prophets of Allah
  3. All the angels
  4. All the Books of Allah
  5. Day Of Judgement

Thats what I believe in and I am proud of that. Do you have any problem with that or you going to decide if I am muslim or I belong to some other groups. It's look like you are the one who is deciding who should go to Heaven and who should go to Hell.

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  1. Kalama Tayiba (There is no creator but Allah (SWT) and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is his true Massanger?
  2. Namaz (As it was taught by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW)?
  3. Rozaah (As of Ramdan Mubarakah?)
  4. Zakat (To give out or to take back? because there are people who refuse to pay the Zakat but they do not hezitate to take it from the Bait-ul-maal.
  5. Haj (In Makkah Mukarma or some where else, because some people prefer to go some where else for the Haj?

I believe in
1. In Allah (The only?)
2. All the Prophets of Allah (Up to Prophet Muhammad (SAW)and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the last prophet of Allah (SWT)
3. All the angels
4. All the Books of Allah
5. Day of Judgement

If some one believe all this, he/she is a Muslim by all means in my views.

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Mtanweer,

Learn to speak honestly and truthfully first, not evasively in the hope you won't get exposed. Whatever you believe say it openly and don't hide it from the rest of us, because not only we can see through you, Allah sees everything.

ADbulmaliCK starts defaming muslims, you support him. You say I am calling you Kafir, but when I show you how your Mirza calls everyone who doesn't believe in him Kafir you lose your voice. Ask yourself, what sort of truth is this?

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Mtanweer:
Please do not dignigy this Extremist by responding to his post - it is not necessary.
Regards,

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Extreme,
What do you not understand from my believes, what is needs to be open.Why don't you say something openly, what do you think I am (other than Muslim). You think I am affraid of you. Let me know what are your believes, Are they different from mine? Remember, Never come between Allah and his servent, Mr Extreme or whatever are you, you are nothing. Do not force your believes on somebody. The above statments from you proves that you like to force your thinking on other peoples, this not a sign of true muslim.
Let me know If this is open enough for you, otherwise you have your faith good for you and I have mine good for me.

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Were these questions so difficult to answer? And why was your brother aDBulmaliCK so keen to silence you? Think about it my friend. Make Taubah and accept Islam truly, for you need fear no one but Allah.

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Mr. Ex
How about you, why are you afraid to answer my question. Let me know your believes, Is it like asking too much or you don't know what your believes are? (other than calling everybody Kafir). I told you mine know what happened with yours, Are you trying to find some excuses to prove that I am a Kafir. Mannn you are a narrow minded exteremist.

I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD AND HAZART MOHAMMAD (SAW)IS HIS PROPHET.

Now what about you, are you muslim or not, let us know your faith, Why are you ducking this question. Is it to hard for you to answer, like you said FEAR NO ONE BUT ALLAH.
Remember again Never come in between MAN and his GOD.

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Mtanweer,

Please be a little more specific in your questions.

The only question I can see in your post is "Are you muslim". Yes I am, sorry if you were confused about this somehow. Please feel free to ask me any further questions but try to stick to one issue at a time.

Now you still haven't answered my VERY SPECIFIC question;

How is it that you are condemning me for allegedly calling you a Kafir, but when I show you evidence that Ghulam Mirza called those who do not believe in him a Kafir, you remain silent? Isn't this hypocrisy?

Please note: this is the one question I would like you to answer and please address it specifically without going into other areas of your general belief.

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How old are you? are you an adult individual or your a just a kid kidding around. How do I have to ask you about believes, it is a hard question for you. Haaaallllloooo is anybody's there, do you have brain in you head. What kind of explanation do you need from me, I gave you the list of my believes, now do you share those believes with us or you have your own. Please let us know. Why this question is so hard for you. You already got a repsonse from Bother Abdulmalik about your attitude.
Let me tell about my self again. I am a muslim by birth (alhamd-o-lilah), and I am not narrow minded like you.

[This message has been edited by MTANWEER (edited May 06, 1999).]

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Are you cock-eyed or something? How many times do you have to keep looking at the same question before trying desperately to avoid answering it?

This was the question;

"How is it that you are condemning me for allegedly calling you a Kafir, but when I show you evidence that Ghulam Mirza called those who do not believe in him a Kafir, you remain silent? Isn't this hypocrisy?"

It is quite clear and unambiguous, and obviously you don't want to answer it because you are a first grade hypocrite. You should have done what your brother aDBulmaliCK said and kept your mouth shut in the first place. You don't need to bother answering it now by the way. I got all the answers I need.

You have been X-posed.

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Now I am pretty much sure that you don't have a brain in your head. what kind of logic you are imposing on me. If I am not agree with you does this make me a Hyprocrate. Let me EXPOSE you, you are the one who is afraid to share you believes with us, you are the one who is afraid to say Kalima on this board,I ask you several times but not even once you claim that you recite any Kalima, now what that makes you? someone else who is spreading hatered on this board on the name of Islam. Who are the peoples who are doing this??????? They pose like muslim and act like someone else, what that makes you 

BIGGEST HYPOCRATE

Or prove to us that you are a muslim. I am sure this is not a hard question. Easy man I know you can do it.