ISESCO director general calls for protecting rights of oppressed people

Paris (IINA) – Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Dr Abdulaziz Altwaijri called on the members of UNESCO General Conference, which is currently holding its 38th session in Paris, to assume their responsibility and take the right decisions to protect the rights of oppressed peoples who are deprived of freedom, dignity, education, culture and science, and to preserve peace and security in the world as a whole.
“The world is therefore put to an extreme test that requires taking well-informed political decisions on this serious situation, and more particularly in the Middle East where the ongoing devastating wars and armed foreign interventions may lead to catastrophic consequences unless they are addressed by peaceful means, within the framework of the Charter of the United Nations and in accordance with the principles of international law." he said in his address to the UNESCO General Conference, which is attended by ministers of education and higher education from member countries.
Altwaijri added that the grave violations of human rights in the Middle East, which some member states at this conference are directly responsible for, along with the acts of aggression that are contrary to international laws and the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the zones of armed conflicts and the destruction of facilities and civilizational landmarks, systematic displacement of people and wide-spread hatred, extremism, terrorism and violence, all together pose a serious challenge to the international community and require an efficient treatment and firm response.
He stressed that the Palestinian people are living in tragic conditions under Israel's blockade and its aggressive, repressive and oppressive policies in the Palestinian territories, for over six decades under the successive Israeli governments.
“This deplorable situation was brought to a climax when a group of extremist settlers broke into Al-Aqsa Mosque, under the protection of the Israeli authorities. All these grave and repeated acts constitute crimes against humanity, and a flagrant violation of international laws, the charters of the United Nations and UNESCO, the resolutions issued by this esteemed Conference, the relevant international covenants and declarations and the resolutions of the UN General Assembly and Security Council,” he said.
Altwaijri emphasized that the international community is responsible, in a way or another, for the collapse of the human civilization landmarks, including historical monuments, cultural facilities, educational institutions and museums with considerable historical significance in Palestine, Syria, Iraq and Yemen, as a result of raging wars in the region.
He also stated that the terrorist groups that have suspiciously emerged in the region are massively engaged in the premeditated destruction of irreplaceable landmarks, and continue their unprecedented attacks against cultural diversity and human heritage.
The director general expressed surprise that regimes which continue to commit crimes against their own peoples, along with the regime that commits terrorist acts against the Palestinian people, and continues to occupy and besiege their land and desecrate their religious sanctities, still maintain their memberships in the United Nations and UNESCO, and send delegates to represent them in the conference.
"I therefore wonder whether the balance of justice is still maintained and whether the values ​​of freedom and human rights are still observed," he said.
AB/IINA
 

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