Arabs Don't Need Lessons in Human Rights

European countries have no right to lecture Arab states about human rights, a June 23 opinion article in the pro-government newspaper Al-Watan said.



The article’s author, Janbulat Shkay, accused European nations of calling repeatedly for the respect of human rights while turning a blind eye to killings in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Gaza Strip and south Lebanon.



The article appeared to be an indirect response to recent declarations by European officials about Syria’s human rights record.



In his piece, Shkay accused Europe of failing to utter any objection to violations of human rights committed by the United States and Israel in the region.



The author criticised Europeans for not putting pressure on the Jewish state to end what he called the siege and the killing of Palestinians as well as for not openly condemning US raids against “innocent people” in Afghanistan and Pakistan.



“People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” said Shkay.



He concluded that Arabs should give rather than receive lessons in human rights especially when it came to supporting international justice and defending the rights and dignity of refugees and human beings in general.