Human rights in Islamic countries

Human rights in Islamic countries vary greatly. In some Islamic countries, there is little respect for human rights, whilst others treat it with more importance. There are complex political issues that contribute to the situation.

audi Arabia

The situation of human rights in Saudi Arabia is considered to be very poor. Saudi Arabia is a monarchy which is ruled by the House of Saud. Saudi Arabia is a center for Islamic fundamentalism and the Wahabi sect institutes the practice of Sharia law which involves the use of cruel methods of punishment. [ [http://hrw.org/doc?t=mideast&c=saudia Human Rights Watch: Middle East and Northern Africa : Saudi Arabia ] ] Public executions are held regularly and involve decapitation, firing squads, and stoning. Women who commit adultery or are victims of rape are stoned to death Fact|date=February 2007. Honor killings are common and the government does little to stop them because this is supported by Sharia law. [ [http://www.countercurrents.org/gender-dasgupta210204.htm No Honour In Honour Killings By Dr Bhaskar Dasgupta ] ]

Pakistan

The situation of human rights in Pakistan is generally regarded as poor by domestic and international observers. Pakistan is a fundamentalist Islamic regime in central Asia which is a center of Islamic fundamentalism. The human rights record of Pakistan was particularly grave under the dictatorship of the US-supported General Zia. [ [http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/0/9da54d3f22f184f1802567390039e0d6?Opendocument Joint written statement submitted by ] ] General Ziaw introduced Sharia Law which led to Islamization of the country. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/pakistan/mckenna_pakistan.html CBC News In Depth: Pakistan ] ] The current regime in Pakistan has been responsible for torture, extrajudicial executions and other human rights violations. [ [http://www.amnestyusa.org/countries/pakistan/index.do Pakistan ] ] Gang rape is used as a form of punishment for woman. Honor killings are also common in Pakistan and are encouraged by Islamic law. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3244725.stm BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Pakistan women's rights take centre stage ] ] .

Turkey

Turkey is the one of the only two countries with a majority Muslim population to have a secular democracy. Turkey has been harshly criticized for its human rights record which has kept it from joining the European Union. [ [http://hrw.org/europe/turkey.php Human Rights Watch: Europe and Central Asia : Turkey ] ] Great damage was done to Turkish attempts to join the European Union when Turkish author Orhan Parmuk was arrested and put on trial for speaking to a Swiss newspaper about his belief that Turkey should take responsibility for the murder of 1.5 million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4205708.stm BBC NEWS | Europe | Turk 'genocide' author faces jail ] ] [ [http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/oct2005/turk-o08.shtml Turkey: trampling on free speech continues Novelist Orhan Pamuk faces jail terms ] ] He was finally released after intense international pressure. Turkey regularly imprisons and tortures individuals that oppose the government of Turkey. Human rights activists and Kurds have been known to "disappear". [ [http://www.hr-action.org/thr/ hr-action.org ] ] .

Iran

The Human rights record of the Islamic Republic of Iran is considered to be poor. The Islamic revolution brought a reign of terror where many thousands of Iranians who were associated with the Shah were either imprisoned, tortured or executed. [ [http://hrw.org/mideast/iran.php Human Rights Watch: Middle East and Northern Africa : Iran ] ] The Islamic Republic of Iran has been active in assassinating opposition members in foreign countries.Fact|date=February 2007

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