WHILE we are still in the first days of 2013, the Copts in Egypt and other Christian communities are celebrating the New Year dreaming of world peace and keeping in mind the International Declaration of Human Rights which was issued on 10 December 1948. Since that time, the world has come to believe that the principles of human rights should protect the freedom and beliefs of people and communities. Unfortunately, Western powers, under the leadership of the US, have resorted to the methods of neocolonialism and used these principles as weapons to apply pressure on people and governments to achieve their own selfish interests. Media campaigns have been launched to distort the images of these people and governments accusing them of racism, terrorism and violation of human rights. This takes place at a time when racism and extremism are flourishing in Europe and the American people are divided according to categories and classes based on color, language and place of origin. The Muslim minority in the United States is suffering from continued oppression and coercion. The image of Islam has been deliberately distorted by linking this great religion to terrorism. The American media, which is mostly owned by Christian Zionists while Jewish Zionists control about 16.5 percent of it, has been vehemently used to attack Islam and Muslims. Whether deliberately or through sheer ignorance, or by a combination of the two, Christian Zionists deny that the principles of human rights are derived from the basic values of Islam. The Holy Qur'an states that human rights are eternal and should not be revoked, amended, tampered with or suspended. These rights have been legislated by the Creator himself so no human being has the right to deny them. The Holy Book is replete with verses about human rights. Verse 32 of Sura Al-Maidah reads: “If anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land, it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.” On the right of freedom, Allah says: “And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, for such there is no way (of blame) against them.” (Al-Shura, Verse 41). In this verse, the Holy Qur'an has urged all human beings to struggle for their freedom. Islam has stated that all humans are equal before justice with no favoritism to the Arabs over the non-Arabs, whites over blacks or blacks over whites except through piety. Every human being has the right to a fair and just trial. Islam is also absolutely against torture. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Allah will torture those who torment people in the worldly life.” Islam has also confirmed the right of the individual to protect himself, his honor and reputation. It has also granted him the right to take refuge in safe places against the injustices and oppressions of authority. Islam has also guaranteed the right of the individual to participate in public life and has ensured him the right to freedom of religion, thought and expression. It also provides him with economic rights and the right to work, build a family, etc. With regard to the right for protection against the oppression of the authorities, the Holy Qur'an says in Verse 58 of Sura Al-Ahzab: “And those who annoy believing men and women undeservedly, they bear (on themselves) the crime of slander and plain sin”. Islam has also prohibited forcing people to become Muslims. It has called for the peaceful coexistence of believers of all divine religions. Verse 256 of Sura Al-Baqarah says: “There is no compulsion in religion. It is clear, therefore, that the Holy Qur'an was the first Human Rights Declaration. It preceded the Magna Carta, the principles of the French Revolution and the American Constitution by hundreds of years. Who then will protect the rights of the Muslims and non-Muslims? This question can only be answered by honest and sincere people.
