Islam equated with rights violation, terrorism.
UNITED NATIONS; May 03, 1999: The UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva adopted a resolution rejecting attempts to equate Islam with human rights violations and terrorism. This marks the first time that any organ of the UN has taken note of this phenomenon associating Islam with inherent terrorism as core of its beliefs.
Pakistan ambassador at the United Nation Munir Akram said that there is a growing perception that Islam is being depicted as a religion opposed to basic human rights and as the ideological and political opponent of the western world. Akram spelt out numerous manifestations of the growing intolerance and negative stereotyping of Islam and Muslims. The phrase “Islamic terrorism” is one illustration, he said. He rejected the attempt to label one billion believers in Islam as terrorists because of the acts of a few persons professing to be Muslims.
Though the resolution was defeated this time; it does not guarantee that in the future, a similar resolution will not succeed.
DISCUSSION & AUTHOR’S COMMENTS: People on this Forum know that I hold Fundamentalist Islam to be Outdated, Faulty and Primitive; and, have advocated revisions of the extreme interpretations on issues surrounding the following:
- Non-believers or Infidels. According to the extremist interpretations: USA, India, Israel, for example, are infidel countries; People of other religion or faiths: Shia muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, Bahais, Ahmedis, etc are also infidels.
2)Infidel countries & individuals are subject to Jehad (Holy War); In Jehad Infidel countries are to be terrorized and destroyed and non-believer individuals killed - all to protect Islam.
3)Muslims waging Jehad are assured Paradise with vigin females for their pleasure. This serves as strong incentive amongst the followers to volunteer and wage Jehad.
4)Women: Extremist interpretations relegate Women to inferior status and subject to violence and discrimination.
5)Indoctrination: Fundamentalist Islam ordains complete obedience from followers; disobedience & criticism is subject to ostracism and violence.
The above issues, as outlined, have nothing to do with the basic tenets (Five Pillars) of Islam. It confirms the negative stereotype and portrays Islam as a political movement rather than a Religion.
Islam and its leadership needs to grapple with the urgency that the situation dictates; it cannot hide behind a facade that the violent terrorist acts are random or acts of few; on the contrary, they are well-organized, funded and executed with broad-based public support.
Finally, those under impression that revisions are not possible; please note: Even King Fahd of Saudi Arabia proposed in 1983 that a global theological review of Islamic law be undertaken in the spirit of ijtihad, despite formal doctrine in his country which rejects any novel innovations after the eighth century.