Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) – Page 34 – A Volunteer Human Rights Coalition – Choose Love, Not Hate

Blasphemy Law used to Oppress Pakistan Christian Woman in Islamabad / Rawalpindi

Volunteer human rights group Responsible for Equality and Liberty (R.E.A.L.) has received new reports from Pakistan of threats against a Pakistan woman who has been leading a Christian ministry.

The new Pakistan field report states that a 33 year old Pakistan woman, Ms. Saiqa, is being threatened by extremists who are using the oppressive Pakistan blasphemy law, PPC Section 295-C, against her. R.E.A.L. initially reported on this case on January 3, 2015.

Ms. Saiqa has been leading Christian ministry efforts in the “in slum areas of Rawalpindi / Islamabad” and is a professional teacher.

According to the new report, Ms. Saiqa has been convicted of blasphemy and called an “agent of western countries.”

In January, we reported how Molvi Razzaq had tried to force her from practicing Christianity and tried to force her convert to Islam, which is in violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 18. We previously reported that after she rejected the advances by Molvi Razzaq, he tried to use the Pakistan Blasphemy laws to silence her and her teaching, and how he filed a FIR to the police claiming that she had defamed Islam. We reported how Molvi Razzaq announced a fatwa against her on a loud speaking and posted fatwa posters to find her, as she fled.

Molvi Razzaq has successfully defied Ms. Saiqa’s universal human rights and freedom of religion, using the Pakistan Blasphemy Laws to silence her.

The local report also states that:

“Molvi Razzaq and group of people of different mosques went to police station to file FIR to the local police station station that Ms. Saiqa used dirty language against Islam and Muhammad. Molvi Razzaq also announced a Fatwa on loud speaker and put Fatwa posters in different areas to find her. Molvi Razzaq has also distributed posters and has announced a reward if any one from Jammat will find her. Molvi Razzaq and other mosque’s clerics assured his people that they will address this matter in Raiwind Lahore for yearly convention, where Pakistan’s clerics and laymen gather for yearly convention.”

Our reporters approached the police station to assess the scale of situation. Police officer says that FIR has been filed and they have public pressure to find Miss Saiqa to fulfill the requirements of law.”

R.E.A.L. is sharing this report with the public, to our friends in the human rights media to get help to Ms. Saiqa, and we challenge the Pakistan government to act to stop this oppression.

R.E.A.L. previously reached the Pakistan Embassy spokesman Nadeem Hotiana on this specific case, who is very concerned about the image of Pakistan in the media. In January stated he would like into resolving this issue; we will remind him on this case. If the Pakistan government is concerned about its reputation, the way to make a difference is to act, not talk, to defend the human rights of religious minorities oppressed throughout Pakistan, in defiance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We call upon the Pakistan government, and we call upon Nadeem Hotiana to personally intervene to stop such oppression of religious minorities.

We call for the defense of this woman, Ms. Saiqa, in Islamabad, and we call for the defense of her human rights, freedom of conscience, safety, and human dignity, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) accepted by the United Nations over 60 years ago.

Thailand: New Arrests of Pakistan Christian Refugee Seekers and Communications with Refugee Groups

Volunteer human rights group Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) is receiving updates on continuing arrests of Pakistan Christian refugees in Thailand, as well as new communications with refugee organizations on this urgent issue. We urge the human rights community to act to end the ongoing arrests of Pakistan Christian refugee seekers in Thailand. Today’s arrests this afternoon (March 13) was mostly of Pakistan Christian women and children seeking asylum from oppression in Pakistan.

New Arrests

After what appeared to be a brief delay, there has been a massive group of arrests of Pakistan Christian refugee seekers in Thailand today. The Thailand police have been arresting such refugees who have been waiting for the UNHCR to act on their application for refugee status. The most recent arrests include an emphasis on arresting women and children of such individuals who have applied to UNHCR for refugee status. We are receiving new reports both of new arrests and of new interest by some in the UNHCR and other refugee organizations. (UPDATE: CBN has posted a video news story on the recent arrests.)

In terms of has received local reports that there were arrests of 300 refugee seekers early today, on March 13, 2015. We have been getting reports arrests in the early morning in Thailand, arresting women, children, and men who are Pakistan Christian refugees, with Thai police searching in building to arrest Pakistan Christians. Later in the day on March 13, 2015, we received reports that that “44 children, 43 women, and 35 men were arrested by police.”

The Farrukh Saif Foundation reports: “Immigration Police of Thailand, with the military, raided the houses of asylum seekers living in Samrong district. Hours before raiding the houses, the area and streets were cordoned off by Thai military; it was like an operation against Criminals. Asylum seekers from inside their homes kept calling around to their other asylum seekers for prayers, calling UNHCR also for protection, but their fate was unavoidable. As soon as the operation started, the Thai military smashed the doors and entered in the rooms of asylum seekers and started arresting the people. Minor kids, women, young and old everyone were treated in an inhuman way. Loads of people were arrested and shifted to Samrong Police station. Many were crying, begging and requesting, showing their asylum seekers certificates but none paid any heed. We immediately rushed to the Samrong Police station but no one was in the mood to cooperate. All arrested people were held in the car parking area and later on they were be seated on the floor inside the police station and Immigration police and other authorities were not ready to listen to any request.”

As reported on March 9, 2015, R.E.A.L. and other human rights groups have appealed to the UNHCR HQ, UNHCR Bangkok, Thailand Prime Minister, Thailand Ambassador in the United States, and the United States Charge d’affaires at the United States embassy in Bangkok, and the United States Immigration Service at the United States embassy in Bangkok.

We are receiving reports that the double-persecuted Pakistani Christian refugees who fled religious oppression and persecution in Pakistan are now suffering in Thailand detention. The detention center’s condition has been reported as very poor, overcrowded and highly unhygienic, with women, children, and elderly sick in jail.

The U.N. has previously reported on this issue in 2011, four years ago.

New Communications on Refugee Issues

R.E.A.L. has been calling the Thailand ambassador in the United States and we are trying to get an audience with him on this matter in Washington, D.C.

One suggestion that we offered was to urge the United States of America government to provide sanctuary to these Pakistan Christian refugees.

The U.S. Bangkok Refugee Section (BnkRefugeeSection@state.gov) replied to R.E.A.L. that if the UNHCR refers such cases to the United States, then the United States can act under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). In response to our request if such Pakistan Christian refugees could be accommodated under U.S. CIS asylum application Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, we received the following response from U.S. Bangkok Refugee Section: “Regarding resettlement to the United States, under the guidelines of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP), refugees are eligible for consideration for refugee resettlement in the United States if UNHCR determines that they require third country resettlement for protection reasons and refers the case to the USRAP. If UNHCR believes someone should be resettled in a third country, they will refer the case to a resettlement country, such as the United States, Canada, or Australia. ”

Many mature Americans will remember the past activities of the United States in granting asylum to Russian refugees from the Communist Totalitarian U.S.S.R. within U.S. Embassies around the world. Certainly the Pakistan Christian refugees fleeing their oppression have just as much right to asylum and protection by free nations.

Within the United States, R.E.A.L. has also contacted the UNHRC offices in New York City and Washington DC in our efforts to get attention on this issue. We previously contacted the UNHCR headquarters offices in Switzerland and the UNHRC Bangkok field office. We have expanded our call to action the UNHRC Director’s office in New York City, and the Washington DC office, with a call to expedite the issue of Pakistan Christian refugees.

We are in communication with those who are also reaching out to U.S. Congressional representatives on this issue.

Among all of the arrests of refugees in Thailand, we have also heard that some in the UNHRC are beginning to listen, and some additional asylum interviews are being scheduled. This is the importance of using our global voice to defend our oppressed brothers and sisters in humanity.

The UNHCR reports that its 2015 partner NGO agencies in Thailand include: Adventist Development and Relief Agency, American Refugee Committee, Catholic Office for Emergency Relief and Refugees, Handicap International, International Rescue Committee, Jesuit Refugee Service, Première Urgence – Aide Médicale Internationale, The Border Consortium

R.E.A.L. has been urged to reach out to other Christian leaders to get their international support, and we call for major Christian leaders around the world to take a stand on this issue of religious freedom and dignity. We call upon American Christian leaders, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Pope Francis, and Christian leaders around the world to speak out for the oppressed Pakistan Christians, both the refugees in Thailand and those continuing to be oppressed in Pakistan. R.E.A.L has been in touch with the Jubilee Campaign, Open Doors, and other organizations.

We have also been contacted by other Pakistan Christian refugee organizations looking to make a difference.

This includes:

— Iman Foundation Trust

— Christian Asylum Seekers Association

— The Farrukh Saif Foundation

and of course, the Pakistan Christian Post of the Pakistan Christian Congress

Government and Refugee Community Points of Contacts

The following are points of contact that we have reached on this topic within the government and the refugee community. These are being shared in the hopes that other human rights activists will also follow up with these individuals to make it clear that this is a shared concern for action on this urgent issue. If you have other contacts, please let us know at usa@realcourage.org, so that we can update this information.

UNHCR, New York: The Director of UNHCR Office in New York, P.O. Box 20 Grand NY 10017, Grand Central, 10017 New York, NY, United States,
Telephone: 1-212-963-0032
Fax: 1-212-963-0074
Email: usane@unhcr.org

UNHCR Regional Representative in Thailand
3rd Floor, United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, 10200 Bangkok, Thailand
Telephone: 66 2 288 1858
FAX: 66 2 280 0555
Email: thaba@unhcr.org

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Case Postale 2500
CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt
Suisse (Switzerland)
Telephone: +41 22 739 8111
FAX: +41 22 739 7377

UNHCR, Washington DC
1775 K Street, NW, Suite 300, 20006 Washington, DC, United States
Telephone: 1-202-296-5191
Fax: 1-202-296-5660
Email: usawa@unhcr.org

Embassy of the United States of America
Bangkok, Thailand
Chargé d’affaires, a.i.
W. Patrick Murphy
GPF Tower A, 10th Floor, 93/1 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Telephone: +66-2-205-4485
Central Fax: +66-2-650-8921
http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/cda.html

U.S. Bangkok Refugee Section
Embassy of the United States of America
Bangkok, Thailand
Refugee and Migration Affairs (RMA) Office
Political Section
120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand
Telephone: +66-2-205-4000
Fax: +66-2-205-4375
E-mail: BnkRefugeeSection@state.gov
http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/rma_contact.html

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (BKK CIS)
Address: Sindhorn Building, Tower 2, 15th Floor, 130-132 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Telephone: 02-205-5352 (within Thailand)
Telephone: 011-662-205-5352 (from the United States)
Email: BKKCIS.Inquiries@uscis.dhs.gov
Field Office Director: Gregory Sanders
http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/embassy/usgmain/uscis.html

Kingdom of Thailand
The Secretariat of the Prime Minister
Government House, 1 Phitsanulok Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10300
General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister
FAX: 66 2 282 5131

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Today’s letter by R.E.A.L received by UNHCR in NYC and Washington DC.

March 13, 2015

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Director of UNHCR Office
P.O. Box 20
Grand Central, New York, NY 10017
United States
Telephone: 1-212-963-0032
Facsimile: 1-212-963-0074
Email: usane@unhcr.org

cc:
UNHCR Regional Representative in Thailand
3rd Floor, United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, 10200 Bangkok, Thailand
(Telephone: 66 2 288 1858 FAX: 66 2 280 0555 Email: thaba@unhcr.org)

UNHCR, Washington DC: 1775 K Street, NW, Suite 300, 20006 Washington, DC,
(Telephone: 1-202-296-5191, Facsimile: 1-202-296-5660, Email: usawa@unhcr.org)

URGENT: UNHCR Action Needed for Pakistan Christian Refugees in Thailand

UNHCR Director’s Office –
I am with the human rights volunteer group Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.), and I am contacting you on behalf of Pakistan Christian refugees who have fled from Pakistan due to the oppressive religious discrimination that they are facing in that country. They have applied for UNHCR refugee status and they are seeking asylum as refugees.

On March 9, 2015, I contacted the UNHCR Headquarters and the UNHCR Regional Representative in Thailand on this issue, and I have not heard back from either on this emergency issue.

I have heard directly from Thailand-based refugees who have applied for asylum as refugees with the UNHCR offices in Bangkok, Thailand. Some of these refugees have been waiting for years on a refugee status decision. In the meantime, the Thailand police are arresting Pakistan Christian asylum seekers.

On March 9, 2015, I was directly contacted about a round of arrests of Pakistan Christian refugees in Thailand. On the early morning of March 13, 2015, I have heard that 300 such Pakistan Christian refugees were arrested in Thailand. In the past two hours, I have heard that more arrests of Pakistan Christian refugees have happened “44 children, 43 women, and 35 men arrested by police.” We have also been told today that the Thai military smashed the doors and entered in the rooms of asylum seekers and started arresting the people. Minor kids, women, young and old everyone were treated in an inhuman way. Loads of people were arrested and shifted to Samrong Police station. Many were crying, begging and requesting, showing their asylum seekers certificates but none paid any heed.”

We are calling for the UNHCR Director’s Office, the Thailand field office, and the UNHCR Headquarters to act on behalf of these UNHCR Pakistan Christian refugees seeking asylum.

In addition, I have been in direct contact with the U.S. Bangkok Refugee Section (BnkRefugeeSection@state.gov) on this matter. The U.S. Bangkok Refugee Section states that if your UNHCR organization refers these cases to the United States, then the United States can act under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). I am certain that many, many Americans would support such an action to assist in the refugee support. At least give this opportunity a chance.

Pakistan Christian women, children, and men refugees are desperately seeking asylum as refugees from the oppression that they routinely face in Pakistan.

I join with the Pakistan Christian Congress and other human rights groups which call for your agencies to take action to protect the universal human rights, dignity, and security, of such refugees who have placed their hopes in your commitment to the universal human rights that the United Nations has itself declared as standard for all nations of the world.

On March 8, the world celebrated International Women’s Day. Today women and children Christian refugees fleeing from Pakistan are now hiding from arrests going on in Thailand, while they have been awaiting action by the UNHCR.

There are many thousands of Pakistan Christian asylum seekers who are contributing members to Thailand and its economy while they await the UNHCR decision on their asylum applications with office of UNHCR in different cities of Thailand.

Pakistan Christian refugees seeking asylum by Thailand have been communicating in an appeal to human rights groups to address their plight. One such Pakistan Christian asylum seeker, Jarvas Jerry, died last week as he was waiting for medical care, which apparently came too late. Mr. Jarvas Jerry died in the Siri raj hospital Bangkok on February 28, 2015. He had applied for asylum with the UNCHR.

Please act to support these women, children, and men Christian refugees in Thailand who are only seeking the universal human rights that the United Nation is committed to in its Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) for the world.

Jeffrey Imm, Founder
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)
The United States of America

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Thailand: Pakistan Christians have fled to Bangkok as refugees from oppression in Pakistan

Thailand and UNHCR: Appeal for Mercy to Refugees

The day after International Women’s Day, we have been contacted by Pakistan Christian refugees in Thailand, about women fleeing from persecution in a country they fled to as refugees.

There are thousands of women, children, and men in Thailand who have applied for refugee status with the UNHCR, are being abandoned by the forces of human rights, and the Thailand police have started a new round of arrests of law-abiding Pakistan Christian refugees, and the UNHCR delays have allowed their visas to expire.

As our good friend with the Pakistan Christian Congress, Dr. Nazir Bhatti states, “according to International rules of Refugee under UN, it is bound to take decision on asylum applications with 90 days that any countries immigration rules may not effect but UNHCR offices in Thailand are giving 3 years’ time for decision. ”

But we are getting first-hand reports of Pakistan Christian refugees being rounded up today and arrested by Thailand law enforcement. We have appealed to the Thailand Prime Minister, the UNHCR, the Thailand embassy in Washington DC, and the United States embassy in Bangkok, to work to delay such arrests until the UNHCR can review and make decisions on their refugee applications. The content of our letters today are listed below.

We call for all women’s rights activists, all human rights activists, and all those who respect our universal human rights to act to support these women and other Pakistan Christian refugees who are being arrested and hunted in churches and the market to be round up and sent to Immigration Detention Centers.

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Letter to Thailand Prime Minister

March 9, 2015

Kingdom of Thailand
The Secretariat of the Prime Minister
Government House, 1 Phitsanulok Road, Dusit, Bangkok 10300
General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Prime Minister
Honorable Prime Minister –
With great respect, I am contacting you on behalf of the human rights volunteer group Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) regarding the need to assist Christian refugees who have fled from Pakistan due to the oppressive religious discrimination that they are facing in that country, and who are seeking asylum. (R.E.A.L. is based in the United States of America.)

These Pakistan Christian refugees have applied for asylum with the UNCHR, including women and children, who are refugees from religious oppression in Pakistan. I urge the government of Thailand to grant asylum to these refugees, or to at least give them the opportunity to seek asylum in the United States of America through the U.S Embassy in Bangkok.

I thank you for your stand on women’s rights, yesterday, on International Women’s Day.

There are many women, however, who need your leadership, as well as children and men among the Pakistan Christian refugees who have fled Pakistan seeking safety and asylum. There many thousands of Pakistan Christian asylum seekers who are contributing members to your nation and your economy while they await the decision on their asylum applications with office of UNHCR in different cities of Thailand.

I join with other human rights groups in appealing to your mercy and your own stand on human rights, just yesterday, to protect such rights for the safety and dignity of Pakistan Christians seeking asylum. I join the voices of other human rights groups on behalf of Pakistani Christians as token of mercy and human rights to ask you to direct the Thailand police to not make unnecessary arrests under immigration rules to allow their UNCHR applications to be considered.

I have appealed to your Ambassador here in the United States as well as to others. Please show the mercy and the commitment to human rights to these Pakistan Christian refugees, which you expressed in your speech to the world on International Women’s Day on March 8.

We share those common goals together, sir. Surely, mercy to these Pakistan Christian refugees would be great demonstrations of our ability to mutual demonstrate such support. Please let me know what we can do to assist your nation on this serious problem.

Jeffrey Imm, Founder
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

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Letter to UNHCR

March 9, 2015

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Case Postale 2500
CH-1211 Genève 2 Dépôt
Suisse.
Telephone: +41 22 739 8111
FAX: +41 22 739 7377

cc: UNHCR Regional Representative in Thailand
3rd Floor, United Nations Building, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, 10200 Bangkok, Thailand
Telephone: 66 2 288 1858
FAX: 66 2 280 0555
Email: thaba@unhcr.org

UNHCR Headquarters and UNHCR Office in Thailand –
I am with the human rights volunteer group Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.), and I am contacting you on behalf of Pakistan Christian refugees who have fled from Pakistan due to the oppressive religious discrimination that they are facing in that country. They have applied for UNHCR refugee status and they are seeking asylum as refugees.

Pakistan Christian women, children, and men refugees are desperately seeking asylum as refugees from the oppression that they routinely face in Pakistan.

Yesterday, the world celebrated International Women’s Day. Today women and children Christian refugees fleeing from Pakistan are now hiding from arrests going on in Thailand, while they have been awaiting action by the UNHCR.

Jeffrey Imm, Founder
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

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Letter to Thailand Embassy in United States

March 9, 2015

Kingdom of Thailand
Royal Thai Embassy
1024 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 40
Washington, DC 20007
United States
Contact: H.E. Mr. Pisan Manawapat – Ambassador
Telephone: (202) 944-3600
Thailand Embassy/Consulate Email: information@thaiembdc.org, consular@thaiembdc.org

Honorable Ambassador Pisan Manawapat –
With great respect, I am contacting you on behalf of the human rights volunteer group Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) regarding the need to assist Christian refugees who have fled from Pakistan due to the oppressive religious discrimination that they are facing in that country, and who are seeking asylum. (R.E.A.L. is based in the United States of America.)

I am available to meet with you in person in Washington DC at your embassy on behalf of these Pakistan Christian refugees. Please let me know your schedule, and I will come to the embassy to meet with you and explain the situation these Pakistan Christians face, and why their asylum is so essential.

Honorable Ambassador Pisan Manawapat – I know you are well aware of the struggles that religious minorities face from extremists, as Thailand itself has a history of suffering from such extremist challenges, which I know you are well aware in your role in the foreign ministry. I have myself reported on such extremist challenges in Thailand over the past decade, urging assistance for your nation from the United States on our shared challenge from extremists.

Today, March 9, 2015, I have been hearing reports from Pakistan Christians whose fellow refugees are currently being arrested in Thailand today, and are being held in Thailand Immigration Detention Centres (IDC). We have heard from Pakistan refugees as to the immediate and urgent situation for the Pakistan Christian asylum seekers in Thailand, who have communicated directly with our human rights group on the plight Pakistan Christians seeking asylum. One such Pakistan Christian asylum seeker, Jarvas Jerry, died last week as he was waiting for medical care, which apparently came too late. Mr. Jarvas Jerry died in the Siri raj hospital Bangkok on February 28, 2015. He had applied for asylum with the UNCHR.

Please sir, I urge you to speak to your Thailand government regarding this situation. These Pakistan Christian refugees have UNHCR refugee applications.

I request the opportunity to speak or meet with you, so I can see how we can assist Thailand to help these refugees. These Pakistan Christian refugees in Thailand seeking asylum from oppression include many women and children.

As you stated in your recent letter to the Washington Post, “Thailand looks forward to working with the US to advance our mutual interests in fighting extremism, supporting human security, global health. security, climate change and many more.”

We share those common goals together, sir. Surely, mercy to these Pakistan Christian refugees would be great demonstrations of our ability to mutual demonstrate such support.

I have the greatest respect for your leadership for the Thai people, and I respect your commitment to human rights and human dignity. Please let me know what we can do to assist your nation on this serious problem.

Jeffrey Imm, Founder
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

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Letter to United States Embassy in Thailand

March 9, 2015

Embassy of the United States of America
Bangkok, Thailand
Chargé d’affaires, a.i.
W. Patrick Murphy
GPF Tower A, 10th Floor, 93/1 Wireless Road,
Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Telephone: +66-2-205-4485
Central Fax: +66-2-650-8921
IRC Fax: +66-2-650-8918; BKK CIS Fax: +66-2-650-7770

Chargé d’affaires, a.i., W. Patrick Murphy –
In lieu of a new U.S. ambassador to Thailand, I am contacting you on behalf of the human rights volunteer group Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.) regarding actions by the Thailand government involving Christian refugees who have fled from Pakistan due to the oppressive religious discrimination that they are facing in that country, and who are seeking asylum. (R.E.A.L. is based in the United States of America.)

Since these Pakistan Christian refugees are being not granted asylum by Thailand, these individuals seeking asylum have been communicating in an appeal to human rights groups to address their plight. One such Pakistan Christian asylum seeker, Jarvas Jerry, died last week as he was waiting for medical care, which apparently came too late. Mr. Jarvas Jerry died in the Siri raj hospital Bangkok on February 28, 2015. He had applied for asylum with the UNCHR.

Today, March 9, 2015, I have been hearing from Pakistan Christians who are currently being rounded up and arrested in Thailand today, and are currently being held in Thailand Immigration Detention Centres (IDC).

We have heard from Pakistan refugees as to the immediate and urgent situation for the Pakistan Christian asylum seekers in Thailand, including a Mr. Imran Ishaq, who has communicated directly with our human rights group on the plight Pakistan Christians seeking asylum. Refugee Imran Ishaq has led the Iman Foundation Trust in support of such Pakistan Christian refugees (ImanFoundationTrust@praxitech.com).

Please sir, I urge you to speak to the Thailand government regarding this situation. These Pakistan Christian refugees have UNHCR refugee applications, but the UNHCR has not taken action on this yet. Human rights groups have reached out to the Thailand Prime Minister on this.

We have this urgent situation where Pakistan Christian refugees desperately need asylum. If the Thailand government continues to deny asylum to these refugees and the UNHCR has not supported such refugee applications, I call upon the United States of America’s embassy in Bangkok to grant Pakistan Christian refugee visitors to the U.S. asylum for safe passage to the United States of America.

The U.S. Embassy can do this, in accordance with U.S. CIS asylum application Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal. There are Pakistan Christians seeking asylum to the United States today.

Mr. Murphy – I know that you share our commitment to the universal human rights of fellow human beings, and yesterday (March 8) you stood to celebrate International Women’s Day and reaffirm your commitment to women’s rights, along with other women around the world, as did our human rights organization. These Pakistan Christian refugees in Thailand seeking asylum from oppression include many women and children. Please let our actions match our words of commitment, sir.

Thank you for your time. Please help these refugees who need to be heard.

Jeffrey Imm, Founder
Responsible for Equality And Liberty (R.E.A.L.)

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Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, and Women’s Rights

In the United States of America today, there are 3.2 million women suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease, and approximately 24 million women around the world suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementia illnesses. We are on the path to having 76 million women with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia diseases around the world – in every nation, every race, every ethnic group, every religion, and every identity group.

The statistics show that 2/3 of the Alzheimer’s Disease patients are women. Based on this percentage of women affected by Alzheimer’s Disease, around the world, we know that many millions of women’s lives and human rights are affected by AD and other dementia diseases. The impact of this on the world’s women is: 24 million women today, 43 million women by 2030, and 76 million women by 2050, based on the World Health Organization (WHO)’s projection of the current number of people with dementia illnesses and the 2/3 of women which are stricken by this disease. The vast majority of these affected are stricken with Alzheimer’s Disease.

On International Women’s Day, we will work to achieve women’s equality and women’s rights for women around the world. Throughout March, we will remember Women’s History Month.

But our struggles and our achievements will be undermined, if we look the other way as women’s rights are stripped away as Alzheimer’s Disease degrades their cognitive abilities, their identities, and their ability to exercise their rights. Our pride in women’s history is shamed by our failure to aggressively call for priority in funding treatment and cure of Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia, which erase the memory of women of their history, every day.

The massive global attack on women’s rights by Alzheimer’s Disease is more than a medical problem; it is an issue which must be part of our commitment to the human rights of women. We can and we must be consistent on women’s rights for all identity groups and nations. If we are consistent, our silence on the destruction of women’s rights by Alzheimer’s Disease does not honor our commitment to women’s rights. This terminal disease not only robs women of their lives, it also steals every aspect of exercising their human rights, equality, liberty, and dignity.

This disease results in one of the worst abuses against women’s rights. It seeks to steal the right to think itself. It attacks every aspect of their lives, and robs them from their very identity.

As we call for our leaders and the governments of the world to act to support women’s rights, we must not forget to call for them to make funding a priority to end this abuse of so many women’s rights. We must call for them to prioritize funding for medical research for treatment, and a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Our support for women’s rights must not just be for the women who have the strength to have a voice and political clout in our world today. Our support for women’s rights must also include those women who cannot speak for themselves, and who are dependent on others. Our support for women’s rights must include the millions of women caregivers, 19 percent of which have had to quit work to become a caregiver or meet caregiver obligations. Our support for women’s rights must include the women providing 24 hour care for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Today, 24 million women are being denied their rights – not only from discrimination, not from a totalitarian government, not from an oppressive ideology – but from a disease, which the governments and nations of the world have not yet made a priority to address. This is targeted to expand to 76 million women. While we demonstrate our defiance against oppressors of every kind, we have turned our back to a disease which is more effective in oppressing women than any other dictator.

We can and we must do better. Our loved ones, our mothers, our sisters, our daughters, our neighbors, and the generations ahead must not have women’s rights stolen away by a thief that seeks to steal their ability to think, their memory, their identity.

As we defend the universal human rights of women, their dignity, we must also defend their most basic rights to who they are and the ability to continue to think for themselves. How can we claim to have compassion for women’s rights, when such basic rights are not a priority?

All women deserve our shared universal human rights – this must include women suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia diseases.

We must make a priority of such basic rights and dignity as the right to THINK, if we ever seek to be Responsible for Equality And Liberty.

Defense of Women's Rights includes Defending the Rights, Liberty, and Dignity of Women with Alzheimer's Disease — Defense of Women’s Rights includes Defending the Rights, Liberty, and Dignity of Women with Alzheimer’s Disease

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* According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the current number of people with dementia around the world is 35.6 million, with a predicted increase to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million by 2050.

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DOJ Finds Pattern of Oppression by Ferguson Police

The U.S. Department of Justice released a report today, March 4, 2015, on its investigation into the criminal investigation into the shooting death of Michael Brown by the Ferguson, Missouri police officer Darren Wilson. It concludes that “the evidence does not establish that the shots fired by Wilson were objectively unreasonable under federal law.”

However, the same day, the DOJ released a separate report on the “investigation of by the Ferguson police,” which showed a pattern of oppressive behavior and activity.

Quoting for the Department of Justice report:

“This culture within FPD influences officer activities in all areas of policing, beyond just ticketing. Officers expect and demand compliance even when they lack legal authority. They are inclined to interpret the exercise of free-speech rights as unlawful disobedience, innocent movements as physical threats, indications of mental or physical illness as belligerence. Police supervisors and leadership do too little to ensure that officers act in accordance with law and policy, and rarely respond meaningfully to civilian complaints of officer misconduct. The result is a pattern of stops without reasonable suspicion and arrests without probable cause in violation of the Fourth Amendment; infringement on free expression, as well as retaliation for protected expression, in violation of the First Amendment; and excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment.”

“Even relatively routine misconduct by Ferguson police officers can have significant consequences for the people whose rights are violated. For example, in the summer of 2012, a 32-year-old African-American man sat in his car cooling off after playing basketball in a Ferguson public park. An officer pulled up behind the man’s car, blocking him in, and demanded the man’s Social Security number and identification. Without any cause, the officer accused the man of being a pedophile, referring to the presence of children in the park, and ordered the man out of his car for a pat-down, although the officer had no reason to believe the man was armed. The officer also asked to search the man’s car. The man objected, citing his constitutional rights. In response, the officer arrested the man, reportedly at gunpoint, charging him with eight violations of Ferguson’s municipal code. One charge, Making a False Declaration, was for initially providing the short form of his first name (e.g., “Mike” instead of “Michael”), and an address which, although legitimate, was different from the one on his driver’s license. Another charge was for not wearing a seat belt, even though he was seated in a parked car. The officer also charged the man both with having an expired operator’s license, and with having no operator’s license in his possession. The man told us that, because of these charges, he lost his job as a contractor with the federal government that he had held for years.”

“Municipal court practices likewise cause disproportionate harm to African Americans. African Americans are 68% less likely than others to have their cases dismissed by the court, and are more likely to have their cases last longer and result in more required court encounters. African Americans are at least 50% more likely to have their cases lead to an arrest warrant, and accounted for 92% of cases in which an arrest warrant was issued by the Ferguson Municipal Court in 2013. Available data show that, of those actually arrested by FPD only because of an outstanding municipal warrant, 96% are African American. Our investigation indicates that this disproportionate burden on African Americans cannot be explained by any difference in the rate at which people of different races violate the law. Rather, our investigation has revealed that these disparities occur, at least in part, because of unlawful bias against and stereotypes about African Americans. We have found substantial evidence of racial bias among police and court staff in Ferguson. For example, we discovered emails circulated by police supervisors and court staff that stereotype racial minorities as criminals, including one email that joked about an abortion by an African-American woman being a means of crime control.”

“City officials have frequently asserted that the harsh and disparate results of Ferguson’s law enforcement system do not indicate problems with police or court practices, but instead reflect a pervasive lack of “personal responsibility” among “certain segments” of the community. Our investigation has found that the practices about which area residents have complained are in fact unconstitutional and unduly harsh. But the City’s personal-responsibility refrain is telling: it reflects many of the same racial stereotypes found in the emails between police and court supervisors. This evidence of bias and stereotyping, together with evidence that Ferguson has long recognized but failed to correct the consistent racial disparities caused by its police and court practices, demonstrates that the discriminatory effects of Ferguson’s conduct are driven at least in part by discriminatory intent in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.”

March 4, 2015 - Investigation of Ferguson Police Department — March 4, 2015 – Investigation of Ferguson Police Department

Responsible for Equality And Liberty supports the universal human rights and dignity of all of our fellow human beings, including all Americans, under our Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the USA, the American Constitution. Oppressive behavior that seeks to deny these rights and defy Constitution law must be rejected by all human rights activists and all patriotic Americans.

International Women’s Day Event – March 8

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:

Bethesda Regional Library
Meeting Room
7400 Arlington Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
240-777-0970

Meeting Room Permit #: 325740

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 Library meeting 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.

Google’s additional Walking Directions from the Bethesda Metro Station

Consistency in Human Rights: R.E.A.L. Call to Montreal Court to Respect Religious Freedom of Rania El-Alloul

The following is Responsible for Equality And Liberty’s (R.E.A.L) letter to Montreal judge Eliana Marengo in her refusal to allow Rania El-Alloul to wear a simple head scarf (due to her religious beliefs) in a court proceeding. This was not in any way hiding her identity. As those in support of our universal human rights, it is our standing to defend such rights based on the commitment of world nations to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

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February 27, 2015

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.

The full text of the UDHR is available at:
http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml

The full text of the ICCPR is available at:
http://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/ccpr.aspx

The commitment of the Government of Canada to such international treaties and laws is described by the Government of Canada’s Department of Justice at:
http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/abt-apd/icg-gci/ihrl-didp/tcp.html

The signatory dates of Canada’s accession to the formal ICCPR treaty on such international treaties and law is available at:
https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&id=IV~4&chapter=4&lang=en

D. Conclusion

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 — 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)

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2015-0227-Marengo-Letter-Hijab

Randy Berry Announced as U.S. Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT Persons

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.

Countering Violent Extremism Begins with Commitment to Human Rights

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.

unis_udhr — The Hope for Our Children Around the World - A Commitment to Our Shared Universal Human Rights (Source: United Nations)

The UDHR is published in English, Arabic, Punjab, Cyrillic, Chinese, French, Spanish, and other languages. It must be a founding basis for discussions around the world on challenging violent extremist behavior.

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.

tumblr_ld7uj3ueTq1qzy2emo1_500 — Eleanor Roosevelt Holding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - in English (Source: United Nations)

UDHR-Preamble-Arabic — Universal Declaration of Human Rights Preamble - in Arabic (Source: United Nations)

UDHR-Preamble-Punjab — Universal Declaration of Human Rights Preamble - Punjab (Source: United Nations)

Iraq: 45 Muslims Burned to Death by ISIS

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.

‪#‎MuslimLivesMatter‬