Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) and other human rights-supporting organizations are holding an International Women’s Day event on the afternoon of Sunday, March 8, from 1:30 to 4:30 PM, at a meeting room in the Bethesda Regional Library. This International Women’s Day event will be to share successes and challenges over the past year, as well as to discuss actions we can take to make a difference in challenges towards women’s equality and human rights.
We are inviting women from all backgrounds to join us at this event, where we will share the experiences of women around the world today, and ongoing struggle for equal rights, and in the United States of America, the struggle for Constitutional Equality. During the past year, we have seen the public response to high profile cases of battery, abuse, rape, murder, and persecution of women by misogynists. We demand that women’s equality and rights are considered an essential part of our shared human rights. #WomensEqualityMatters#MakeItHappen
We have invited leaders from United4Equality, Montgomery County Business & Professional Women (MC BPW), and supporters of the National Organization of Women (NOW). Please share this event with other women activists interesting in participating in this Sunday, March 8, International Women’s Day event.
EVENT LOCATION:
Given the recent weather conditions, we are holding this as an indoor event at the following address:
EVENT TIME:
We are planning the total even from 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM, but we anticipate most participants will be actively there from 2 PM to 4 PM.
CONTACT:
Jeffrey Imm, 301-613-8789, jeffrey.m.imm@gmail.com.
(Please contact us prior to the event to let us know that you will be coming.)
TRANSPORTATION:
Weekend parking is free at the Bethesda library.
The Bethesda Librarymeeting location is also within walking distance from the Bethesda Metro Station (Red Line) at 7450 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814. We can also coordinate to pick up some people from the Bethesda Metro to the library meeting room, if necessary. Ride On Bus 36 also stops outside the Bethesda Library.
Walking Directions to Bethesda Library Meeting Room from Bethesda Metro Station:
— Bear left at the top of the station’s escalator.
— Walk through the bus terminal and then straight ahead 2 blocks on Edgemoor Lane to the library.
Honorable Eliana Marengo
Court of Québec
Montréal
1 rue Notre-Dame E.
Montréal, Québec H2Y 1B6
Phone: 514-393-2370
Fax: 514-873-8950
Judge Eliana Marengo –
My name is Jeffrey Imm. I am with the volunteer human rights group Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.). I am an American citizen, but our activist efforts for human rights have supported the human rights, dignity, and security for our fellow human beings in Canada before, and we are doing so again in this case.
I am writing you regarding the human rights of Rania El-Alloul, and your ejection of her from the Montreal courtroom until she removes her hijab. This was not a case of someone covering their face or hiding their identity. This was simply a matter of someone with a head-covering, which was part of their religious beliefs.
I am certain you have heard at this point from Canadian Prime Minster Harper’s office on your decision to prevent this Muslim woman from testifying in a Canadian court of law.
I will address this issue to you based on the Montreal court’s responsibility to respect international law, human rights, religious freedom, and standards of legal justice, based on United Nations’ agreements and treaties signed by Canada. Based on such international standing, Responsible for Equality And Liberty requests your court to allow Rania El-Alloul to proceed with the court proceedings, while respecting her religious freedom and associated dress.
A. Montreal Court’s Responsibility to Respect International Law, Treaties, and Human Rights Agreed to by Canada
The Montreal court certainly has its rules and regulations, as do all courts. But the courts of law of our world must begin with a shared understanding and commitment to our universal human rights.
Your nation, Canada, is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) accepted by the United Nations and your country on December 10, 1948. This includes Canada’s May 19, 1976 accession to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), G.A. res. 2200A (XXI), 21 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 16) at 52, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), 999 U.N.T.S. 171.
Our standing on this matter is as fellow global citizens within the community of nations who are also accountable to our nations’ agreements on the UDHR and the ICCPR.
If the Montreal court rules are used to reject these international treaties and standards of human rights, then the United Nations and countries of the world need to seek accountability for change in Montreal through the Canadian government. I urge you to reconsider your position on the case of Rania El-Alloul, as a responsible Canadian and citizen of the world, who respects and defends law and order.
Based on Canada’s commitment to the UDHR and the ICCPR, it is the responsibility of Canadian courts of law to recognize and respect the international human rights standards and treaties that your nation has agreed to.
The UDHR and ICCPR are not for some nations, some people, some religions, and some instances. As stated in Article 28 of the UDHR, which Canada is a signatory to, you have a responsibility to recognize the rights of the UDHR in your nation. Canada’s commitment to UDHR includes UDHR Article 28, which states: “Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.”
Canada’s international treaty commitment in the ICCPR Article 3 includes that: “The States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to the enjoyment of all civil and political rights set forth in the present Covenant.”
B. Montreal Court’s Responsibility to Respect Religious Freedom Defined in International Law, Treaties, and Human Rights Agreed to by Canada
Canada’s commitment to the UDHR also respects the religious freedoms of all people, per Article 18. UDHR Article 18 states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”
Canada’s commitment to the ICCPR Article 18 echoes this message: “1. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.” and “2. No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.”
These articles of the UDHR and ICCPR apply to all nations, all cities, and to all courts, including the Montreal courtroom. Rania El-Alloul’s religious freedoms should not be abrogated because she seeks law and order in a Montreal courtroom. This is a rejection of Canada’s commitment to the UDHR, a rejection of law and order under the ICCPR treaty, and a rejection of the standards of legal fairness which must be the basis for such courts of law.
C. Montreal Court’s Responsibility to Respect International Standard of Law and Court Proceedings Agreed to by Canada
Canada’s commitment to the UDHR also respects the standards of fair equitable hearings and court proceedings for all people, per Article 10. UDHR Article 10 states: “Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him.”
Canada’s commitment to the ICCPR includes ICCPR Article 14, which states: “1. All persons shall be equal before the courts and tribunals. In the determination of any criminal charge against him, or of his rights and obligations in a suit at law, everyone shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law.” ICCPR Article 14 also states numerous other guarantees, which are required to ensure fairness and impartiality in any criminal trials.
In addition, Canada’s commitment to the ICCPR includes ICCPR Article 26, which states that “All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, the law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”
Furthermore, Canada’s commitment to the ICCPR includes ICCPR Article 27, which states that “In those States in which ethnic, religious or linguistic minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities shall not be denied the right, in community with the other members of their group, to enjoy their own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language.”
Your honor, these are not my subjective views or my opinions, which I am sure you have heard plenty of. These are the written standards and treaties, which the Government of Canada has agreed to in its role within the community of nations of the world.
Honorable Eliana Marengo, I send this letter to you with my respect for your authority. We must have rules to have order in our society. That is precisely the point that I making here in my letter to you. We must have rules. If we ever hope to any semblance of justice in Canada or anywhere else in the world, we must have consistency in those rules that is in accordance with the international law and treaties accepted by our nations, in this case the ones signed by the Canadian government, under which Montreal and its courts gets their authority.
Rules are rules, your Honor, and the law is the law. This is not just for the rest of the world, but also for Canada, and also for Montreal. That law is defined and constrained not only by regional and parochial regulations, but also by the international commitment which our countries have made as a civilized and unified community of nations. Those international rules are rules, your honor, and those international treaties and laws are law.
A position for consistency cannot merely argue that we are consistent with the standards we consider important; they must also be consistent with the standards which our nations and our collective community of nations agree to and accept for the people of the world.
I send you this letter with respect for your position and your authority, as well as your sense of honor in respecting the law, not just Montreal law, not just Canadian law, but all of the law our nations have agreed to. Rules are rules. The law is the law.
I am available to speak further with you on this. I am sure there are plenty of individuals well qualified to speak with you on this, but in support of our universal human rights, an “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” As previously mentioned, our standing on this matter is as fellow global citizens within the community of nations who are also accountable to our nations’ agreements on the UDHR and the ICCPR. We share your responsibility for upholding the law and rules that our nations have agreed to. We are all responsible for equality and liberty.
I look forward to your commitment to consistency on our shared law and our shared rules, and your court allowing Rania El-Alloul to proceed with the court proceedings.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Imm
Founder, Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
United States of America
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Rania El-Alloul says she was told by a Quebec judge to remove her headscarf immediately or apply for a postponement in order to consult a lawyer. (Source: CBC)
The U.S. State Department has announced that Randy Berry will fill the role as Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT Persons. Randy Berry now has the opportunity to speak out for those LGBT persons being persecuted, tortured, and murdered around the world. The world has seen the recent gruesome images of gay men being thrown off building and stoned to death in Raqqa,Syria, the execution of 4000-6000 gay people in Iran since 1979, mob attacks, lynching, and anti-rights bill in Uganda, as well as violence in the U.S. and around the world. This is indicative of the challenges around the world. Our shared universal human rights matter for everyone, everywhere, all the time.
It must not be too controversial for dialogue on extremism to take a consistent stand and commitment on our shared universal human rights, or then we have missed the primary challenge. We will not defeat extremism with political compromise, but by unyielding commitment to our shared universal human rights – for everyone, for every religion, for every identity group.
Extremist violence begins with denying the human rights, dignity, and security of others. Weakness in ignoring this reality only gives strength to those who seek power through violence, rejecting those human rights which they believe have no defenders.
When we offer a “counter extremist narrative,” we must ask, and what is that narrative based on – if not our universal human rights? What would appeal to diverse extremists of different ideologies that would be effective, if it is not grounded in our shared universal human rights? The ideas of building awareness and seeking intervention of the problem of such violence makes sense, but if such intervention is not based on our shared human right rights, we must ask “based on what?”
The economic aspect of the countering violent extremism (CVE) summit is worthy of consideration for some, but it is not going to be the answer to many, and we must keep human rights as our top priority. The fact is that people who have “something to lose” are (in general) less attracted to extremist violence. People may have extremist views in private, but when they have a family to support, a job to keep, and community responsibilities, the appeal of extremist violence is countered by the practical realities of other responsibilities in their lives. It is true that jobs and economic opportunity won’t stop people from pursuing a path to terrorism domestically or globally, but such other responsibilities will provide a distraction for some.
However, we will not convince many extremists that on solution focused on “prosperity,” “progress,” and other general terms are going to cause them to stop pursuing extremist goals and activities. We must recognize that for those with a different view on human rights, our chief objective must be a counter argument that all of our shared human rights will suffer, if we are not consistent on human rights for everyone.
When we lead with a commitment to our shared universal human rights, we don’t need explanations of “nuances” in policies to challenge violent extremist activity. There is no nuance in the call for our shared universal human rights to challenge violent extremist behavior.
The United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), ratified in 1958, creates a written standards of human rights for the people of the world. The UDHR was followed by an international treaty, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These standards of human rights provide the international agreements to counter violent extremist behavior from any ideology and any part of the world. Our leaders need to be governing based on these standards, which they are consciously ignoring. Those nations which have not ratified such human rights standards need to be challenged as to why they will not accept such fundamental human rights for all people.
The Hope for Our Children Around the World - A Commitment to Our Shared Universal Human Rights (Source: United Nations)
While politicians typically focus on compromise, effective support of human rights requires consistency and sacrifice. Human rights campaigns are not a popularity contest, which appeals to politicians.
When we take a consistent stand on our shared universal human rights, the situation changes. We can challenge violent extremist activity by any ideology, because the activity is against our shared universal human rights. For example, from a human rights perspective, we must challenge both the terrorist activity by ISIS as well as the human rights abuses by Bashar al-Assad. Wrong is wrong, and our human rights matter in every instance.
A consistent stand is not the political one of making the “least bad choice,” but seeking support for shared human rights by all. If we really want to make change, if we really want to hear “grievances,” then this is where we start – consistency on our shared universal human rights.
It does not make sense for politicians and government leaders to extend an outstretched hand to groups known for extremist views, without urging them to support our shared universal human rights.
R.E.A.L. calls for a new summit, not of politicians, not of government leaders, but of individual leaders and identity group organizations to challenge violent extremist activity, who are willing to begin this discussion based on our shared universal human rights. R.E.A.L. calls for a summit based on support for our shared universal human rights, shared human dignity, and shared security.
We call for individuals and leaders to demand that our national leaders, our political leaders, and our representatives take a new view on challenging extremist activity, one where our share human rights is the focal point and the cornerstone, not swept aside as something we won’t talk about.
We call for national and global leaders to adopt and support the United Nations’ 1958 Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and we call for leaders to use this as the basis to challenge and defy the ideologies of violent extremism in the United States of America and around the world.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is as relevant today as it was in the shadow of the atrocities by Nazi Germany, as described in its Preamble:
“Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,”
“Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,”
“Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law,”
“Whereas it is essential to promote the development of friendly relations between nations,”
“Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,”
“Whereas Member States have pledged themselves to achieve, in co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms,”
“Whereas a common understanding of these rights and freedoms is of the greatest importance for the full realization of this pledge,”
“Now, Therefore THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY proclaims THIS UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, to the end that every individual and every organ of society, keeping this Declaration constantly in mind, shall strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms and by progressive measures, national and international, to secure their universal and effective recognition and observance, both among the peoples of Member States themselves and among the peoples of territories under their jurisdiction.”
Article One of the UDHR provides the basis for challenging all violent extremist activity: “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
We must have a summit of our fellow human beings, not based on political positioning, but based on our support of these shared universal human rights.
We urge all of our brothers and sisters in humanity to be Responsible for Equality And Liberty for all.
Eleanor Roosevelt Holding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - in English (Source: United Nations)Universal Declaration of Human Rights Preamble - in Arabic (Source: United Nations)Universal Declaration of Human Rights Preamble - Punjab (Source: United Nations)
BBC reports on an atrocity in western Iraq Al Anbar Governate’s town of al-Baghdadi. BBC reports that “Violent Extremist militants from Islamic State (IS) have burned to death 45 people in the western Iraqi town of al-Baghdadi, the local police chief says.” BBC also indicates “The fighting and poor communications in the area make it difficult to confirm such reports.”
If confirmed, this is likely the burning to death of 45 Muslims (Sunni) by a global terrorist organization which claims its goal to create an “Islamic State.” Wikipedia reports that: “Nearly all the inhabitants of the province are Sunni Muslims and mostly from the Dulaim tribe.”
As more information is available, R.E.A.L. will update this posting. It is astounding that such a gruesome mass murder likely of Sunni Muslims is going with limited reporting.
This demonstrates again the priority of our defending our human rights and human dignity for all of our fellow human beings. Those who reject such shared human rights will sink to any level to deny and degrade our fellow human beings.
The Coptic Christian church has confirmed the murder of 21 Coptic Christians by the global terrorist organization ISIS in Libya.
Our human rights, dignity, and security must be for ALL of our fellow human beings of all identity groups. Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns this gruesome and outrageous attack by ISIS in Libya, which was clearly documented as a deliberate hate crime attack on Christians. There is a long and grim history of abuse, murder, and intolerance against Coptic Christians, which people of conscience must reject without qualification.
The global terrorist group ISIS paraded the Christians in orange jumpsuits and cut their throat on the beach.
21 Coptic Christians Murdered in Libya by Global Terrorist Organization, ISISGlobal Terrorist Organization ISIS Justifies Hate Crime Murders as Attacking "Nation of the Cross"
The actions of ISIS terrorist group in wanton and gruesome murder of 21 Christians must be rejected by all people of all identity groups, all religions, all ethnic groups, and all people of conscience. Their murder was an attack on all of us. When someone attacks the shared universal human rights, security, and dignity of one of us, it is an attack on all of us. There is never any rationale, religion, or ideology which justifies such attacks on and murders of our fellow human beings. We must reject any such extremist views as wrong – all the time.
Our human rights, dignity, and security must be for ALL of our fellow human beings of all identity groups. Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) condemns the terrorist attack last night, Tuesday night, which led to the death of three young American Muslims.
The family has created a Facebook website of three American Muslims in Chapel Hill, North Carolina: Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, and his wife Yusor Abu-Salha, 21, and Abu-Salha’s sister, Razan Abu-Salha, 19, of Raleigh. My sympathies and prayers go out to their families and loved ones.
They were murdered in Chapel Hill, NC, with Craig Stephen Hicks arrested for the murders. Every such murder is a terrorist attack when people of an identity group are targeted.
The actions of the murderer of these young people must be rejected by all people of all identity groups, all religions, all ethnic groups, and all people of conscience. Their murder was an attack on all of us. When someone attacks the shared universal human rights, security, and dignity of one of us, it is an attack on all of us. There is never any rationale, religion, or ideology which justifies such attacks on and murders of our fellow human beings. We must reject any such extremist views as wrong – all the time.
As more information becomes available, R.E.A.L. will update this posting.
R.E.A.L. rejects and condemns violence against Muslim-Americans, and we urge our fellow Americans and our human beings to show respect for Muslim lives, as we respect all lives. #MuslimLivesMatter
R.E.A.L. rejects the anti-human rights view that any would have in targeting people for violence, murder, and abuse of their human rights due to their religion, their ethnic background, and their identity group. We urge all of our fellow human beings to continue working with us to improve our global culture to accept our universal human rights as a priority for all of our leaders, all of our governments, and in all of our lives.
23-year-old Deah Shaddy Barakat, his wife, Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19 (Source: Facebook)
A woman at the Fairfax County Jail, Natasha McKenna, died after by shackled by police deputies and a Taser stun gun was used on her repeatedly for failing comply with the deputies’ commands, according to reports citing the sheriff’s office. The repeated Taser shocks apparently drove her into a cardiac arrest and resulted in her death. She was shackled while being repeatedly shocked with an electric Taser stun gun, with four 50,000 volt shocks from the Taser gun, while strapped into a restraint chair. It is a disgrace and an embarrassment to human rights activists that the individuals responsible for Natasha McKenna’s death have not yet been identified and held accountable.
How are they above the law?
UPDATE: February 12, 2015: “‘It takes six deputies to restrain a 5’3′, 37-year-old woman?’ Harvey J. Volzer, an attorney for McKenna’s family, asked in an e-mail to The Washington Post. He said that McKenna had been diagnosed with schizophrenia when she was 12.”
“The Fairfax sheriff’s office declined to answer further questions about the incident Thursday. In an e-mail, Capt. Tyler Corey said, ‘We are grateful for the diligence and professionalism displayed by the Police detectives as they work through their investigation.'”
Fairfax County Sheriff’s Captain Tyler Corey proud of investigators, after woman tasered to death, and no action taken.
April 1, 2015 from the Washington Post: “A mentally ill woman who died after a stun gun was used on her at the Fairfax County jail in February was restrained with handcuffs behind her back, leg shackles and a mask when a sheriff’s deputy shocked her four times, incident reports obtained by The Washington Post show.”
Restraint Chair Similar to those used in Fairfax County Jail
“Natasha McKenna initially cooperated with deputies, placed her hands through her cell door food slot and agreed to be handcuffed, the reports show. But McKenna, whose deteriorating mental state had caused Fairfax to seek help for her, then began trying to fight her way out of the cuffs, repeatedly screaming, “You promised you wouldn’t hurt me!” the reports show.”
“Then, six members of the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team, dressed in white full-body biohazard suits and gas masks, arrived and placed a wildly struggling 130-pound McKenna into full restraints, their reports state. But when McKenna wouldn’t bend her knees so she could be placed into a wheeled restraint chair, a lieutenant delivered four 50,000-volt shocks from the Taser, enabling the other deputies to strap her into the chair, the reports show.”
Another report on April 13, 2015, states that “experts” felt this was inappropriate. (As if you have to be an expert to know it is wrong to strap down a woman and electrocute her.)
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Responsible for Equality And Liberty defends the right of equal justice for all people, and rejects the use of authority as a tool of oppression to belittle and deny justice to people in the United States of America, and anywhere in the world.
Like many in our America today, and especially among human rights activists, we are used to making such reports and protesting such behavior from fascist and totalitarian rogue nations with a history of oppression such as: North Korea, Communist China, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and other rogue nations in the greater Middle East, Asia, Africa, and South America.
Do not let our reporting deceive anyone, we are as sickened and disgusted by what is going on in the United States right now as anyone else.
As we continue to see the litany of reports about American rogues in law enforcement, we must challenge those who have lost their way (some would say lost their minds) and remind them as human rights activists, our challenge to oppressors of human rights are not just to distant shores, but also right here in the United States of America.
For many individuals whose human rights are denied or compromised, the future is the present. Our future goals in defending their universal human rights must be to ensure their human rights today.
