Mukhriz: Basic human rights not a monopoly of the West
ALOR SETAR: Basic human rights should not be monopolised by the West because it has also long existed in Islam, said Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Mahathir.
According to him, Islam is a complete religion because it is interconnected with basic human rights.
“Islam is a religion that accords the same rights to all humans, transcending race, skin colour, social status and position. Basic human rights in the tradition of Islam is about championing rights and duty.
“.. not only towards fellow Muslims but also non Muslims, the environment, animals, prisoners of war and others,” he said while launching a forum on Basic Human Rights in the Tradition of Islam, at Dewan Seri Mentaloon here yesterday.
Mukhriz said many verses in the Al- Quran explain the importance of upholding basic human rights, such as right to live and personal safety in Surah Al-Maidah verse 32 and Surah Al-An’am verse 151.
Similarly with the right to religion, which is the most basic human right as explained in Surah Al-Baqarah verse 256, Surah Yunus verse 99 and Surah An-Nisa verse 47.
Islam, said Mukhriz, also gives right of free speech, liberty to express opinions and right to education as stated in Surah AlA’raf verse 179, Surah An-Nisa verse 148 and Surah At-Taubah verse 122.
He said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 was proposed while Asian and Islamic countries were colonies of Europe and did not have any say in it.
“This document is based on secular liberalism where any reference to God and revelation knowledge is rejected,” he said, adding, that 48 countries signed the declaration on Dec 10, 1948.
He said the International Covenant of Civil Rights and Political Rights 1966 and International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1966 was also a reaction to the atrocities of the First and Second World Wars.
The menteri besar also said the people should not believe every human rights news generated by the foreign media, “which have their own agenda”.
He cited the Israel- Palestine conflict where the international media portrayed Israel as the victim and its actions as an act of defence against the the purported violence by Palestine.
“The world is fed information with an agenda and scheme. The absolute power of the media can render the guilty not guilty and turn black into white,” he said. — Bernama