Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Mr. Obama-your response to this?

Shock horror: Jordanian study finds Islamic supremacist parties least concerned with human rights

Why is it that the most avowedly Islamic parties seem to be made up of Misunderstanders of the Religion of Peace and Tolerance?

"Study finds Islamist parties least concerned with human rights," by Hani Hazaimeh for the Jordan Times, December 21 (thanks to Twostellas): AMMAN - The Kingdom's Islamist parties are the least concerned with human rights among other political parties in the country, according to a study revealed on Sunday.

The study, which was conducted by the National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR), categorised the country's 15 political parties into four groups - Islamists, nationalists, leftists and moderates....

Barakat said the study classified human rights into four sub-categories: equality; civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights; and any relevant articles in the parties' charters concerned with human rights in general.

The 102-page study showed that Islamic parties' charters made the least mention of equality, accounting for only 13.64 per cent of all references to equality in party charters. In comparison, moderate parties accounted for 33.64 per cent of such references.

According to the study, which was compiled through direct questionnaires and interviews with the founders of each party, Islamic parties' charters focus more heavily on socio-economic, cultural, civil and political rights, as well as on power sharing.

All parties' charters call for freedom of expression, the study noted, while 13 out of 15, or all except one Islamist and one nationalist party, mention the right to a fair trial.

Barakat explained that the founding documents of leftist and Islamic parties do not include any references to the right to life, freedom of movement or freedom from torture and cruel treatment, whereas moderate and nationalist parties stress these rights in their agendas.

The university professor noted, however, that the total number of references to human rights in political party charters now make up 60 per cent of their content, compared to 25 per cent 10 years ago, citing a similar study he conducted at that time.

Addressing the Political Parties Law for the year 2007, the study criticised the licensing procedures stipulated under the law, which require parties to have a minimum of 500 founding members and secure the approval of the interior minister to be established, pointing out that these restrictions contradict international standards.

Barakat said the study showed that poverty and unemployment were the top issue on all parties' agendas, followed by the state of the national economy, fighting corruption and democracy, while human rights, agricultural reform, water shortages and national unity were issues of least concern.

"Human rights, in the past, were not at the top of political parties' agendas. This study is a call for all parties to review their objectives and principles to be more focused on human rights," said Minister of Political Development Musa Maaytah, who attended the seminar along with human rights activists and representatives of various political parties.

The minister added that parties should seek to contribute to the decision-making process in the country in a peaceful manner.
http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=22520
Thanks Jihad Watch

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