Why is it that the most avowedly Islamic parties seem to be made up of Misunderstanders of the Religion of Peace and Tolerance?
“Study finds Islamist parties least concerned with human rights,” by Hani Hazaimeh for the Jordan Times, December 21 (thanks to Twostellas):
AMMAN – The Kingdom’s Islamist parties are the least concerned with human rights among other political parties in the country, according to a study revealed on Sunday.
The study, which was conducted by the National Centre for Human Rights (NCHR), categorised the country’s 15 political parties into four groups – Islamists, nationalists, leftists and moderates….
Barakat said the study classified human rights into four sub-categories: equality; civil and political rights; economic, social and cultural rights; and any relevant articles in the parties’ charters concerned with human rights in general.
The 102-page study showed that Islamic parties’ charters made the least mention of equality, accounting for only 13.64 per cent of all references to equality in party charters. In comparison, moderate parties accounted for 33.64 per cent of such references.
According to the study, which was compiled through direct questionnaires and interviews with the founders of each party, Islamic parties’ charters focus more heavily on socio-economic, cultural, civil and political rights, as well as on power sharing.
All parties’ charters call for freedom of expression, the study noted, while 13 out of 15, or all except one Islamist and one nationalist party, mention the right to a fair trial.
Barakat explained that the founding documents of leftist and Islamic parties do not include any references to the right to life, freedom of movement or freedom from torture and cruel treatment, whereas moderate and nationalist parties stress these rights in their agendas….