By Dr Maqsod Jafri
Irina Piraner Ms. Irina Piraner: with all due respect, I would like to briefly comment on your comments. Today, on the page of Human Rights Watch, some ladies seem are protesting against human rights violations. Some people have commented on it. All have agreed that human rights must be respected and protected. I agree with them.
As a recognized poet and philosopher and author of 32 books of poetry, philosophy and politics, through out my life, I have written and spoken on the restoration and promotion of democracy, social justice, humanity and peace. I have suffered through out my life for my ideas, ideals and ideology, especially during the dictatorship of the military regimes in Pakistan. Every human must struggle to protect human rights. There are no two opinions about it.
But your approach to the concept of human rights and pragmatic principles is very narrow and based on mere racial adherence and apprehensions. You have written:” Return Israeli hostages taken by Hamas home. Pledge to defend human rights of theses hostages and those that are murdered by Hamas on October 7th, 2023.”
No sane person and humanitarian would support the killings of the Jews by Hamas. There is no justification for the killings of the innocent civilians of any class, country, creed and color. Humanity is indivisible. This act of Hamas , is of course violence. This act was not done by the government of Palestine or by the people of Gaza.
Then, why the civilians of Gaza have been mercilessly being killed? Besides , the question arises what the fascist regime of Israel is doing for the last seven decades? The government of Israel is incarcerating, harassing, beating, abdicating and killing the innocent Palestinians. Even the kids and ladies are killed. Israel has thrown into dustbin UN resolutions and OSLO pact. Is it not against International Law?
What Israel is doing in Gaza? Incessant and brutally killing the innocent civilians of Gaza. The hospitals, the installations, the mosques, the buildings and university buildings have been destroyed and demolished. Nearly about 40 thousand civilians have been killed. Seventy thousand people have been injured. Is it not the violation of human rights?
The whole world is protesting against the atrocities of Israel being perpetrated on civilians of Gaza, but theses cries are like a cry in the wilderness. The Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu wants to win the upcoming election at the cost of the blood of the Palestinians. He has proven to be the Adolf Hitler. The Muslims have always condemned Holocaust. Is the present tragedy of Gaza not the Second Holocaust?
I salute those Jews who are rallying against the excesses of the Israeli regime in Gaza and are demanding peace in Gaza. They are chanting the slogans: “ Judaism is not Zionism”; “ End war”; “ No genocide”; “ Free Palestine.”
Are these demands undemocratic, inhumane or illegal? If not, then why people like you are not supporting these demands? Let us be honest and fair. Let us condemn the violation of human rights irrespective of racial discrimination and religious extremism. The future of humanity lies in peace and harmony. Let Israel abandon the quest and lust of Greater Israel and policy of expansionism, demographic changes and terrorism. Let us pledge: “ Humans unite in the name of Humanity.”
