They are incapable of enduring Iran’s claim for freedom and independence...

They are incapable of enduring Iran’s claim for freedom and independence, which is, accompanied by calling for observance of the rights of the oppressed people throughout the world specially the rights of the Palestinians. They try to render the minds of the nations rebellious to us especially to our ideological principles with a view to satisfying their domineering interests.

Thus, it is incumbent upon us, and the seekers of truth and of happiness for man and the true advocates of universal peace and mutual understanding of the religions and the dialogue among civilizations to identify the linking bonds of world’s religions, civilizations and cultures, promote friendship and love between human beings throughout the world and shield against anti-human and hostile propaganda of international Zionism and Imperialism who see their existence in the dissension and hostility among nations.

Approaches The comparative study of Islamic human rights and Western human rights has long prevailed in the Islamic societies and a great bulk of books and essays have been written on this subject. The Western and Islamic scholars generally adopt three approaches toward this issue: The first approach is total acceptance or rejection; in other words, they either accept one or reject the other without any reservation.

Some Muslim thinkers reject the principles set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and seek after such rights only in Islam and assume the aforementioned Declaration as originating from human desires and even atheism. As opposed to their stance, some advocates of western human rights hold that the Islamic instructions are insufficient and even unjust. They question the origin of Islam, believing that such issues in Islam have been bound to time and place.

The second approach pertains to those drawn in by the western civilization. They know no other issue as this except in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. After all, some believe in a religion like Islam, and see human rights as something outside the realm of religion; if they regard a worldly mission for religion, they consider it a phenomenon not as valid now as at the advent of religions.

Therefore, if religions, which claim to express the divine knowledge, have stated anything on this subject, it has been only applicable for their own time and they may never be generalized for all times including our age. Deciding on this matter has been delegated to man by God.