Terrorist Acts against innocent people are crimes against Humanity by Editorial - Kim Gleeson 1:27am 21st Nov, 2003   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 such wanton attacks against civilians which he called "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.    Pope John Paul II : "terrorism against innocent people is an attack on human dignity."    Amnesty International : "The deliberate killing of civilians has no justification and violates fundamental principles of international law,"    Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesian Security Minister.(Extract from 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 happy plans to spend "tomorrow" under the sun. 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.    To this day, we still do not understand why these loved ones had to meet such a tragic, undeserved fate. Many of us had been lost trying to search for answers and meaning to this nightmare...    ...we shall ensure that the noble values the terrorists hope to destroy will always remain dear to our hearts, and will bind all of us even closer as a grand family of nations and peoples.    What are these values? Freedom. Religiosity.Tolerance. Diversity. Unity. Democracy. Compassion. Fraternity. And humanity. These are the core values that define our civilised ways of life. These are the values that no terrorist bombs can ever take away from us. It is only fitting that, 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. Amen.    10th November, 2003. ( Extract from the BBC World News on the Terrorist strike in Saudi Arabia).    Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa:    The secretary general condemns in the strongest terms the criminal and terrorist actions which have no purpose except threatening stability, planning evil and terrorising and killing civilians without heeding any religion or creed or caring about the sanctity of the month of Ramadan.    UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw:    These murderers have shown absolute contempt for Islam and for people of all nations. This was indiscriminate murder of men, women and children of various nationalities during the holy month of Ramadan.    Russian foreign ministry:    We view this as another crime of international terrorism. The criminals' methods leaves no doubt that the people behind this barbaric act have no morals or religion.    German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer:    The German Government fiercely condemns this attack - a barbaric act against civilians.    Lebanese President Emile Lahoud:    Lebanon, which condemns terrorism anywhere, can only deplore in the strongest terms attacks like these.    Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi:    Killing innocent people, including women and children, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, is immoral, inhuman and against religious beliefs.    Kuwait Government statement:    Kuwait... condemns and rejects all forms of terrorism and urges the international community to condemn such ugly criminal acts and fight them with all means and resources.    Japanese Foreign Minister Yoriko Kawaguchi:    We resolutely denounce such an act of terrorism, which victimises innocent people.    Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman Masood Khan:    Terrorists have once again targeted the innocent civilians.    Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef:    There is no crime more heinous than this. It took place in the country and against citizens and a place housing Arabs and Muslims...    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... do not burn, do not cut down a fruit tree... If you come across communities who have consecrated themselves to the (Christian church), leave them."    These words are part of the most basic religious education that Arab and Muslim school children receive. I know, because I was one of them"..    Kim Gleeson, Editor & Producer of the Universal Rights Network.    "I utterly condemn all acts of terror against unarmed innocent people anywhere in the world. Our first human right as human beings is the right to life and NO ONE has the right the take another's life in such circumstances. It is murder, plain and simple. Once again, the victims are ordinary people, workers, husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, children. The perpetrators of these acts of terror achieve nothing but the heart break and grief of other human beings.    There are many of us around the world who believe the circumstances for too many of the world's peoples is unjust and unequal. We work to effect change, often with limited financial resources and little political power. We work to promote respect for the humanity and human rights of all peoples. We believe in the humanity of all people. Regardless of race, nationality or religion. 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".    Randa Abdel-Fattah is an Australian-Muslim of Palestinian and Egyptian background, and a member of the Palestinian Human Rights Campaign. (24 August 2003).    "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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