NEED FOR PRINCIPLED POSITION TO END RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN PALESTINE

DUBAI, Dec 11 (Bernama) -- The international community has been reminded to
have a principled position to stop once and for all Israel's gross human
rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the city
of Al Quds.

The reminder came from Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC)
secretary-general Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu in conjunction with the Human
Rights Day.

In a message issued from Jeddah where the OIC is based, he expressed hope
for a just, tolerant and prosperous world where the sanctity of human life was
respected and the dignity and inalienable rights of human beings were upheld.

"In celebrating the Human Rights Day this year, we must reiterate our
common resolve to accommodate diversity and eliminate discrimination. This can
be done by reviving a spirit of dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect at the
grassroots level," he said.

Ihsanoglu also urged all Muslims to live up to the teachings of Islam which
sanctify human life.

"Unfortunately, in the past years, we've been witnessing, to our shock and
dismay, horrific crimes and violations against this most fundamental human
right.

"We should all, in the Muslim world, stand up firmly and unify against
violence, division and sectarianism," said the secretary-general.

The international community marks the Human Rights Day on Dec 10 each year
to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the
United Nations General Assembly in 1948.
-- BERNAMA