UDHR is lopsided, claims lawyer

UDHR has ignored the fact that rights of those who have faith in faith are equally important to be protected too.

PETALING JAYA: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) received a blow when a lawyer said that it did not champion the rights of the faithful to practice their faith.

“The UDHR is not universal because it does not cater for the people who have faith in faith. The rights of religion over rules rights of individual.

“Unfortunately the rights are now secular based. When one believes in a faith, they have to accept it in totality,” said lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla.

Haniff was a counsel to the Selangor Islamic Religious Council commented on attempts by Coalition of Malaysian Non-Government Organisations (Comango) to raise issues relating to freedom and human rights in Malaysia.

The group of 54 NGOs is expected to hand over its report on the situation of human rights at the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Thursday.

The government is concerned over the report in the wake of the “Allah” verdict at the Appeals Court that barred Catholic weekly, Herald from using “Allah” in their Bahasa Malaysia version.

Other issues expected to be raised by Comango include the persecution against Shiite Muslims and rights of the lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders.

Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) even used its Friday sermon session day before urging Muslims to reject human rights values that are against Islamic teachings.

The sermon reads: Based on the information that we have received, there are reports sent separately by a coalition of 54 NGOs called Comango and they are clearly threatening the sovereignty of Islam.

Article 3 of the Federal Constitution states that Islam is the religion of the federation.

On Wednesday, Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Jamil Khir Baharom urged Muslims to conduct prayers (solat hajat) while the UPR session is on.

Comango meanwhile have denied allegations that it was threatening the position of Islam and promoting unnatural sex in their human rights report.