Hawzah News Agency – Hojatoleslam Hamid Shahriari, Secretary-General of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, has declared that dignity and justice constitute the foundational values of the Islamic system, emphasizing that the right to life, food, water, homeland, and freedom are inalienable human rights that no one may violate.
Addressing an international conference on religions that commenced Thursday in Russia, Shahriari outlined Islam's position on human dignity and justice while delivering a scathing critique of global arrogance and the Zionist regime's treatment of the Palestinian nation.
Dignity: A Universal Human Value
"In these critical times, I wish to speak about two Islamic values: dignity and justice," Shahriari stated. "Dignity is a human value that God has bestowed upon all human beings, regardless of their religion, sect, or belief. Even those who do not worship God possess this worldly attribute — human dignity and honor."
Citing the Quranic verse "And We have certainly honored the children of Adam," the cleric emphasized that human dignity transcends religious affiliation.
He identified justice as the second fundamental Islamic value, describing it as the observance of others' rights and the highest and most universally accepted social value emphasized by God.
"Justice means respecting the rights of others," Shahriari said. "Oppression, in contrast, is depriving others of their rights through aggression and hostility."
Fundamental Human Rights in Islam
The Secretary-General stressed that every human being possesses certain inalienable rights that all are obligated to respect.
"The right to life, the right to food and water, the right to reside in one's homeland, and the right to freedom are among the most important human rights," he declared. "No human being has the right to kill another without justification, or to besiege them and deprive them of food, water, shelter, and homeland."
He emphasized that these are the very principles commanded by the Holy Quran, and Muslims are duty-bound to uphold them regardless of the religion, creed, or ideology of the recipient.
Palestinians Deprived of Basic Rights
Hojatoleslam Shahriari pointed to the widespread challenges facing moral and human values in today's world, noting that Palestinians have been systematically stripped of these fundamental rights.
"Cruelty and oppression are the ugliest behaviors a human being can commit against another, and the right to life is the foremost human right," he stated. "The Islamic Ummah and the Muslim world have been in anguish and profound pain for more than 70 years."
The cleric condemned American support for the Zionist regime, declaring: "With America's backing, the hegemonic system and the usurping Zionist regime have occupied part of Palestine — land belonging to the Islamic Ummah — and displaced a nation from its homeland."
He detailed the systematic destruction of Palestinian homes and the plundering of their property and assets through what he called "the most savage and violent aggressions," depriving Palestinians of numerous human rights.
Generations of Displacement
Shahriari highlighted the long history of Palestinian displacement, noting that several generations have been forced into exile, living in camps without the most basic civil and human rights.
"Today we witness the displacement of hundreds of thousands of families in Gaza, the homelessness of millions of Palestinians from their homeland, and the martyrdom of tens of thousands of ordinary citizens, most of whom are children and women," he said.
The cleric added: "Nearly 50,000 people have been wounded, and every 10 minutes a child is killed — yet no one stops these crimes."
Western Double Standards Exposed
The Secretary-General launched a blistering critique of Western powers' dual standards on human rights issues, asserting that "global arrogance and Zionist tyranny, led by America with the support of Britain and France, have brought forced displacement, imposed siege and war."
He accused the hegemonic powers of attempting to crush the spirit of resistance worldwide in order to gain control of global energy resources.
"The arrogant world, led by America, applies double standards regarding war and justice, working to achieve its own particular interests," Shahriari stated.
He posed a pointed question: "If killing is evil, it is evil everywhere. If displacement is evil, it is evil everywhere. But the usurping regime calls the killing of innocents, including children and women, a 'just war' and labels the defense of human rights as 'terrorism.'"
Iran's Resistance: A Model for the Oppressed
The Secretary-General pointed to the Islamic Republic's steadfastness against American aggression as a beacon for oppressed peoples worldwide.
"Today, Iranian justice is a model for the world because it has revived hope in the hearts of the oppressed and astonished the entire globe," Hojatoleslam Shahriari declared. "We resisted American aggression and emerged victorious, and this is what the world is watching with awakened eyes."
Addressing Zionist crimes in Gaza, Lebanon, and other Islamic countries, he concluded: "What the Zionist regime has perpetrated in Gaza, Lebanon, and other Islamic nations constitutes genocide, ethnic cleansing, and mass murder — crimes that even animals do not commit against one another. These crimes expose the West's double standards and its disregard for human rights when confronting oppressed nations."
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