Hawzah News Agency- Iran’s Minister of Justice Amin Hossein Rahimi spoke at the opening ceremony of the first International Conference on Human Rights in the Eastern Approach, which was held in Al-Zahra Hall of the Islamic Culture and Communications Organization in cooperation with Baqir al-Olum University (PBUH. Rahimi stated,” I am very pleased to participate in this international event that deals with the important issue of human rights in the Eastern Approach. Today, one of the main concerns of humanity is to achieve justice for all.”
The Minister of Justice added,” Creating the concept of human rights is to realize this human ideal. Contrary to what some Western writers have claimed, the West is not the founder of human rights, and it must be acknowledged that respect for human rights is rooted in the East. The East is what Will Durant has called the "cradle of civilization." The Babylonians developed astronomy and physics, and Iran, before the Roman Empire, established the largest empire in history.”
He continued to say, "Apart from material advances, the role of this civilization in protecting human rights is undeniable. The Code of Hammurabi, which was written by order of Hammurabi, the king of Babylon, on criminal, civil, and commercial laws around 1,750 BC, is a living document of the creation of a written framework for protecting human rights in a civilized society. Who has not heard of the Charter of Cyrus the Great and who denies its antiquity in respecting human rights? A charter in which the human rights of enemies were also respected. It is clear that all this was at a time when there were still hundreds of years left until the dawn of Western civilization.”
Rahimi further noted, “The laws that spoke of tolerance, mutual respect, emphasis on justice, and avoidance of violence were developed and brought to fruition in the civilization of the East. These are the principles that have been emphasized in divine religions, especially Christianity and Islam. The truth is that we sometimes forget that Christianity is a religion that spread in the East and its humanizing commandments were influential in the West.”
The Minister of Justice stated: Apart from that, the principles of human rights are clearly evident in all religions, including Islam. The Prophet (PBUH), who rose up against the polytheists and arrogant people of Hejaz society, proposed teachings based on brotherhood, equality, and freedom of humans. It was he who abolished discriminations and proposed the implementation of equity and justice and the realization of the rights of the weak, and in his eternal book, the Holy Quran, he introduced man as the caliph and successor of God on earth, who is the owner of all natural, moral, social, and civil rights. This approach in the practical life of Shiism is best expressed in the words of the Infallible Imams, especially the command of Imam Ali (PBUH) to his governor. In this command, he says, “O Malek, be in charge of your soul and prevent it from every wrongdoing, for indeed, being strict with yourself is the same as justice. Fill your heart with kindness towards people.”
Rahimi stated,” The Islamic Republic of Iran, emphasizing this responsible and social approach to human rights, believes that individual and social freedoms within the framework of the law are among the basic rights of every human being and no one has the right to violate these rights. Undoubtedly, one of the challenges of implementing human rights in the world is rooted in the difference between Eastern and Western perspectives; the aggressive view of the West and the lack of attention to indigenous values in the East will weaken it instead of advancing human rights.
Stating that it is hoped that the implementation of human rights will become widespread in the world, Iran’s Minister of Justice said,” Considering the three categories of common nature, respect for cultures and religions, along with the principle of peaceful coexistence, will truly manifest the principle of mutual respect.”
He continued,” Today, more than ever, we must think about the Eastern capacities in human rights. Despite the numerous written rules of human rights, human society continues to witness the increasing ineffectiveness of these rights at the hands of powers claiming human rights, who are themselves the main violators of human rights. Meanwhile, the ruling system is in possession of false and seemingly legitimate justifications created by international authorities, and the most obvious of these is the contribution of the founders and claimants of Western human rights, who had the greatest share in organizing the First and Second World Wars and gross violations of human rights in the post-colonial era.”
“The tragic story of the people in Gaza, and Lebanon is one of the manifestations of this false claim. Just as the brilliant experience of the East lies in protecting humanity, the experience of successful implementation of human rights must be based on peaceful coexistence among individuals and religions. The Eastern approach of supporting human rights is based on the idea that serious attention should be paid to the peaceful life of humans and their social rights.” He concluded.
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