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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS

E-Newsletter
Vol.3 No.40
October 3, 2001


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Religious Perspectives on Human Rights is now available online at: http://www.rghr.net

Religious Perspectives on Human Rights is a weekly e-newsletter issued by Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic and Christian Groups on Human Rights, initiated by the Asian Human Rights Commission.

1) A NOTE FROM MAYA
2) ATTACK ON WORLD TRADE CENTRE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
Asghar Ali Engineer
3)The NEED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT:
4) Verhofstadt's call for "ETHICAL GLOBALISATION"
5) LITERACY LIBERATES by P.J.Alexander
6) RESPECT CIVILIAN LIFE, Human Rights Watch said today.
7) CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM COLLABORATION IN THE PROMOTION OF JUSTICE
8) UNECE Preparatory Meeting Ends With Call For "Global Deal"
9) EQUALLY UNITED IN PROTECTING AND ASSISTING THE INNOCENT VICTIMS

1) A NOTE FROM MAYA

Hi from a *very* different New York. The past two weeks have been traumatic, but we are starting to get back to our normal lives (sort of). Everyday, we have discussion groups and planning meetings for what we can do to respond to the terrorist attack. I am part of a tolerance/awareness working group, and we monitor the situation regarding attacks on Arab-Americans, Sikhs and try to figure out ways to help educate the public on tolerance issues.
I come across a lot of articles everyday, so I will just send you ones that I think you may find relevant to your newsletter (or just for your personal interest). Headline: Muslim, Asian Women Target of Insults, Harassment Many women are terrified to leave their homes and fear for the safety of their children and husbands. And, like all Americans, Muslim and Arab Americans are in deep mourning over the loss of innocent lives. Read More at

2) ATTACK ON WORLD TRADE CENTRE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS

Asghar Ali Engineer

...declaring war against Afghanistan would hardly do much harm to it even if it is bombed to the stone- age as Mr. Bush, the President of mighty America says. Afghanistan has already been reduced to stone age by the policies of super-powers on one hand, and, the fanatical Talibans, on the other. What more the people of Afghanistan will lose than they have already lost?

Another thing we must remember here is that Islam, however it is used for legitimation of the actions of the terrorists' act, is not the issue. Also, we must make a difference between religion as faith and religion as an identity. Religion as a faith has largely a spiritual function and religion as an identity acquires political overtones. The terrorists are using Islam as an identity as ethnicity becomes a powerful function of identity. The ethnic terrorism is as dangerous as religious terrorism. The western and Indian media, some subtly, some more openly, began to target Islam as a religion of fanatics and violence. It is co-incidental that the terrorists in this case happens to be Muslims (though yet not conclusively proved but in all probability, yes). In case of Ocklahama they were Christians.
The terrorists, it must be noted, are not product of religion, they are product of certain state policies. The USA has made this grave mistake.. There are thousands of Afghans who hate Taliban but are helpless. The Taliban's Islam is Islam of fanatical fringe and any violent group is always in need of such fanatical interpretation of religion to bind their followers together. Again we should remember that such violence and fanaticism are not products of religion but such religion is product of desperate need of such fringe groups.

Most of the Muslim `Ulama have condemned these terror attacks.. Islam upholds sanctity of human life as the Qur'an declares that killing one innocent human being is like killing the entire human race. The tragedy of the 11th September is a crime against humanity and the Muslims all over the world mourn all victims of this aggression as a common loss of America and the whole world.".... America thus rather than planing a war against terrorism should dispassionately think of policy measures which can ultimately end this brutal kind of terrorism.

(Please write to us for the complete text- the editor)

3) The NEED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT:

"Universal crimes deserve a universal answer," said Dutch Foreign Minister Jozias Van Aartsen. "We emerge more convinced than ever of the need to strengthen the international legal order and the fight against universal crimes," Van Aartsen said of the attack on the World Trade Center. "Where better to begin our renewed effort than in that, the same city of New York?"

Participants at an ongoing New York meeting on the International Criminal Court, which is to come into existence when 60 countries ratify the treaty that created it,
yesterday said the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States demonstrate the need for the court and strengthen its position.

4) Verhofstadt's call for "ETHICAL GLOBALISATION"

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt is calling for more globalisation to fight inequality and narrow the gap between rich and poor nations.

He said the challenge was to give globalisation a conscience, and not to rein it in.

"I would call this ethical globalisation a triangle of... trade, cooperation and the prevention of conflicts," Verhoftsadt said in an open letter published by several Belgian newspapers on Wednesday and quoted by Reuters. "We need a global, ethical approach to issues such as the environment, working conditions and monetary policy," he said. Verhofstadt's call for "ethical globalisation" matches the ethical foreign policy championed by his rainbow coalition government, which took strong stands against ex-Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet and Austria's far right.

5) LITERACY LIBERATES by P.J.Alexander

The persisting illiteracy in rural India, worries no one., though the Constitution pledges universal primary education, till 14 years ,to every child in India. This is another area of contradiction in India with its massive investment in institutions of higher education. Dalits, tribals and other the lower castes are the worst sufferers. Even from among them, there are others who are kept still far away from literacy. "Manual Scavengers" whose sad plight was highlighted by the book "Endless Filth"(Books for hange, Bangalore)and the Video footage "Less Than Human"

One of the Churches in Kerala, The Mar Thoma Church, has responded to this challenge with imagination and courage. It believes that education is emancipation and empowerment, and literacy liberates. In the Budget Session of the Assembly of the Church, Aug 28-30,the Church has made a provision for setting up one hundred Schools in the areas in north India affected by such stifling discrimination to be known as ":Gram Jyoti "schools. The long term plan of the Church is to set up as many schools as required in the backward regions.

There is great pressure on the Government to make education a fundamental right through legislation. Another nail on the coffin of caste based, discrimination and denial of equal opportunity.

6) RESPECT CIVILIAN LIFE, Human Rights Watch said today.

"What made the September 11 attacks so appalling is that civilians were the targets," said Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch. "International law insists on exactly the opposite: that even in times of war, civilians must be protected. We hope the General Assembly will demand that human rights principles not be compromised in any action taken as a consequence of the attacks." In an open letter to members of the General Assembly made public today, Human Rights Watch urged United Nations member states to:

• reaffirm that any action undertaken in the name of combating terrorism, including military action, will be conducted strictly within the terms of international human rights and humanitarian law;
• assure that refugees and asylum seekers do not become another casualty of the attacks perpetrated in the United States and reaffirm that provisions of the 1951 Refugee Convention will continue to be applied to refugees worldwide, and that the right to seek asylum is fully protected;
• reaffirm that law enforcement officials carrying out anti-terrorist actions in member states must comply fully with international human rights standards; and
• assure that any attempt to reinforce existing international treaties enabling national courts to investigate and prosecute international crimes such as hijacking and hostage-taking, be carried out in a manner consistent with the most essential standards of international human rights law

7) CHRISTIAN-MUSLIM COLLABORATION IN THE PROMOTION OF JUSTICE

(Zenit.org).- Religion has an indispensable role to contribute in the promotion of justice and peace between peoples, Cardinal Francis Arinze told a conference at the Foreign Ministry's Institute for Political and International Studies in Iran. Excerpts from the cardinal's address, entitled "Christian-Muslim Collaboration in the Promotion of Justice and Peace," appeared in today's edition of the Tehran Times. Cardinal Arinze, 68, said that Christians and Muslims account for more than half the world's population and, consequently, should be able to greatly promote justice and peace.

8) UNECE Preparatory Meeting Ends With Call For "Global Deal"

U.N. Economic Commission for Europe ministers yesterday wrapped up a preparatory meeting for next year's World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) in Johannesburg by adopting a common declaration affirming the region's willingness to address in new and significant ways global poverty, human rights violations, conflict and environmental degradation. wiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss, Link Terrorism, Sustainable Development ;

As the United States attempts to build an international antiterrorism coalition following the Sept. 11 attacks on the country, Deiss said "retaliation and force alone" will not defeat terrorism. "There is no justification whatsoever for such acts," he said of the attacks. "However, in my view, above all, it will be necessary to have a strategy of promoting sustainable development as well as equality and justice between peoples in order to deal effectively with poverty, exclusion and desperation" (UNECE release II, Sept. 24).

9) EQUALLY UNITED IN PROTECTING AND ASSISTING THE INNOCENT VICTIMS: Annan Pleads For Int'l Aid To Avert Humanitarian Disaster

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan urged the world community to help avert a potential humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan, where more than 5 million people rely on foreign aid for their survival. "Innocent civilians should not be punished for the actions of their government,"Annan said in a statement released in New York. "The world is united against terrorism. Let it be equally united in protecting and assisting the innocent victims of emergencies and disasters."