Terrorist Attacks against Innocent People anywhere in the world are Crimes against Humanity by Kim Gleeson 9:59pm 21st Apr, 2004   21 April, 2004.    The Universal Rights Network once again emphasizes that terrorist attacks against innocent people are "Crimes against Humanity".    United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan: "all terrorist acts, from whatever quarter and whatever their justification, are morally repugnant and indefensible".    "The Secretary-General wishes to express, once again, his utter condemnation of all such indiscriminate attacks on civilians.They violate all accepted standards of morality, as well as national and international law, and cannot be justified by any cause or ideology".    Sergio Vieira de Mello, former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights;    "Without the right to life, talk of basic human security and dignity holds little meaning. That is a statement of fact; there can be no higher purpose that justifies anyone desecrating this right. Terrorism, and the infliction of such misery on innocents, is an affront to our common humanity: it is the most base violation of our fundamental human rights"    The International Commission of the Red Cross    "Within the scope of international humanitarian law, terrorism and terrorist acts are prohibited under all circumstances, unconditionally and without exception. Protection for the civilian population is the basic principle of humanitarian law; civilians not taking part in fighting must on NO account be the object of attack and must be spared and protected". The 1949 Geneva Conventions and their 1977 Additional Protocols contain specific rules to this effect.    Bertrand Ramcharan, Acting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.    "Nothing can justify attacks against civilians which are "a complete denial of human rights."..."Whatever their claims, those who carry out this type of attack -- whether they act as they have done recently in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, against civilians and places of worship in Iraq, and in too many other places to count -- are criminals that must be brought to justice in accordance with international human rights law," he said.    Amnesty International : "The deliberate killing of civilians has no justification and violates fundamental principles of international law. It shows complete contempt for the most fundamental principles of humanity".    Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, former Indonesian Security Minister. (Speech on the anniversary of the Bali Bombing Atrocity. October 13, 2003).    Never mind their nationalities. Never mind their race, religion, ethnicity or profession. They were our sons, our daughters, our fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters, cousins, best friends, soul mates. And they were all innocents. .They all had families. But all were rudely taken from us by terrorists who wanted to make a senseless demonstration of their hatred for others...As a Muslim, I should end with a verse from the Koran: Take not life, which Allah hath made sacred, except by way of justice and law: thus doth He command you, that ye may learn wisdom.    Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa: The secretary general condemns in the strongest terms criminal and terrorist actions which have no purpose except threatening stability, planning evil and terrorising and killing civilians without heeding any religion or creed.    Human Rights Watch: "The logic of terrorism—that the ends justify the means— that leads to the deaths and injury of of innocent people is contrary to the most elementary values of humanity. There can be no justification for acts that assault the right to life and the rule of law".    Lebanese President Emile Lahoud: Lebanon, condemns terrorism anywhere.    Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi: Killing innocent people, including women and children, is immoral, inhuman and against religious beliefs.    King Abdullah II Of Jordan. (December 17 2002).    " There is nothing fundamentally Islamic about these extremists. They are religious totalitarians, in a long line of extremists of various faiths, who seek power by intimidation, violence and thuggery.    Extremists violently reject the original moderation and openness of Islam - qualities that made the Muslim world the historical home of diversity and learning. Nor does their violence constitute "jihad", or holy war. The Prophet Mohammed tells us that the "greater" holy war is not against others at all but against one's own failings. Moreover, in a famous speech, the Prophet's follower and first successor, Abu Bakr, commanded Muslim soldiers: "Do not betray, do not deceive, do not bludgeon and maim, do not kill a child, nor a woman, nor an old man".    Kim Gleeson, Editor & Publisher of the Universal Rights Network.    It is totally wrong and abhorrent to kill innocent people to make political points. There is never any possible justification. To target and kill innocent people is an act of murder. Where ever and to whom ever it tragically occurs. The use of such deadly violence against innocent people to further political ends is a crime against humanity. The victims of terrorist attacks are ordinary people, workers, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, children. The perpetrators of such acts of terror achieve nothing but the heart break and grief of other human beings.    Randa Abdel-Fattah an Australian-Muslim of Palestinian and Egyptian background, and member of the Palestinian Human Rights Campaign.    "As a Muslim, it appalls me to witness people who dare to profess allegiance to Islam while committing heinous acts of murder and destruction...In actual fact, such murderous actions repel the dictates and boundaries of the Islamic faith. No matter the cause or struggle, to slaughter civilians is not a tribute to Islam, but a defilement of its teachings, a vile defamation of its image, and an utter contempt of its message".
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