This is just dhimmi pandering, but if there is any truth to it at all, it would explain the artificial prolonging of the Palestinian Arab refugee problem. It would also explain why the UN turns a blind eye to jihadi violence from Palestinians against Israelis. After all, a cardinal point of Islamic refugee law is that Muslim refugees must fight jihad war against those who have made them refugees. “To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight), because they are wronged; and verily, Allah is most powerful for their aid. (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right, (for no cause) except that they say, ‘our Lord is Allah.'” — Qur’an 22:39-40
“UN: Islamic law is major influence on refugee law, says study,” from AKI, June 24 (thanks to herr Oyal):
New York, 23 June (AKI) – The 1,400-year-old Islamic custom of welcoming people fleeing persecution has had more influence on modern international refugee law than any other traditional source, according to a new study sponsored by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
High Commissioner Antonio Guterres said that more than any other historical source, Islamic law and tradition underpin the modern-day legal framework on which UNHCR bases its global activities on behalf of the tens of millions of people forced from their homes around the world.
This includes the right of everyone to seek asylum as well as prohibitions against sending those needing protection back into danger, Guterres said in the foreword to “The Right to Asylum between Islamic Sharia and International Refugee Law: A Comparative Study.”
In the study, Professor Abu Al-Wafa, Dean of the Law Faculty at Cairo University, describes how Islamic law and tradition respects refugees, including non-Muslims; forbids forcing them to change their beliefs; avoids compromising their rights; seeks to reunite families; and guarantees the protection of their lives and property.
“The international community should value this 14-century-old tradition of generosity and hospitality and recognize its contributions to modern law,” wrote Guterres.
He said that “racism, xenophobia and populist fear-mongering manipulate public opinion and confuse refugees with illegal migrants and even terrorists.”
These attitudes have contributed to misperceptions about Islam, and Muslim refugees — who account for the majority — have paid the price, said Guterres.
“Let us be clear: refugees are not terrorists. They are first and foremost the victims of terrorism. This book reminds us of our duty to counter such attitudes.”
The study, published by UNHCR in cooperation with Naif Arab University and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, is scheduled to be launched on Tuesday at Naif Arab University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Well, I ain’t that much of a naif, myself. Misperceptions? What, then, does 22:39-40 mean?