Central Welfare Commission, Tehreek-e-Taliban, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar 11th November 2014

To all Human Rights Organizations

Subject: Double standards

“Every now and then we hear the condemnation and criticism by the human rights groups over various kinds of human rights abuses. We also hear highly inflated claims of such organizations that are working for the betterment of humanity. Nevertheless when we observe closely we see a pattern in the behaviour of human rights organizations. We feel that campaigning of human rights organizations is quite biased and one sided. You would definately raise your voice when for example Muslims implement Islamic penal code in some area; when Muslim women want to observe Islamic penal dress code and want to have Islamic education or when the Muslims take up arms against the invaders in order to defend themselves. However there is little or no condemnation from the human rights organizations when for example, Muslims are imprisoned without any charge; when the Muslims are brutally tortured in the most inhumane prison cells or when they are executed in some desolate jungle without any trial.

Last year on the 27th December, our brother Ikramullah Mohmand, was arrested by the NATO and Afghan forces in Afghanistan. He had dual nationality of Pakistan and Afghanistan. He was not formally charged with any offence and after spending 9 months he was then handed over to Pakistanis in September this year where he is imprisoned in Mohmand Agency headquarters Ghalani. Pakistan government and army have been involved in some of the worst human rights violations. The prisoners are disgraced and frequently they are executed through a firing squad or by being given lethal injections. These incidences have happened to our companions in the past and we have the details of the incidences with us. There is a concern that Ikramullah and his companions may also meet the same fate.

We understand that we are fighting a war but the wars should be fought with some principles and code of conduct. We Muslims have clearly outlined guidelines in Shariah how we should engage with the enemy and how we should treat the prisoners of war. By and large the prisoners who are released from the Muslims talk high of the treatment they have received during captivity. In contrast our prisoners have endured severe human rights abuses by the hands of our opponents. But you people claim to be champions of justice, so you should really take the notice of abuses that your allied Pakistani government is committing on Muslim prisoners. If Ikramullah Mohmand is executed by Pakistani authorities our brother will be a Shaheed InshaAllah, that would be the greatest success for him. But such extreme act is likely to initiate a storm and our Pakistani enemies and their friends may all take the brunt of it. Seeing the bias and hatred of human rights organizations against Islam and Muslims, it seems that you may also be included in this retribution process.”

End

Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights/WOT and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.