Human rights in the Middle East

Human rights in the Middle East Human rights, an integral part of global development, is still a dilemma that virtually every region in the world faces. Within the Middle East, many countries have human rights violations ranging from honor killings to child labor. With the long road of human rights progress, and progressive thinking, it is hard to imagine any inhumane human rights violations today. However, everyday, innocent peoples human rights are violated throughout the world. Even with the almost equal treatment of women and men in the western world, many other countries are subjecting their women to unfair and very brutal treatment and customs. In some countries, children are abducted and threatened with death until they submit themselves and become child soldiers. Following the Cold War, democratic ways, emerging markets, and human rights development seemed to emerge from different parts of the Middle East. The important question to address is why some countries in the region where able to respect the concep t of human rights, while many find it difficult to establish. Do they merely not want to address the situation of human rights? Or maybe the countries religious observance conflicts with that of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights? Surely, most of these countries share the same religious dogmas and perhaps some are more conservative than others, but addressing each countries inability to accept the issues pertaining to their human rights violations is very important to understand. To completely recognize this situation, we must analyze certain case studies of diverse Middle Eastern countries, such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. P A K I S T A N Since its creation as a Muslim country in 1947, Pakistan has gone through a chaotic course of building and establishing its own country. The delay in creating a parliamentary democracy in a national setting has been hindered by the multi ethnic groups, disagreeing elite, and the overall influences from other countries. In Pakistan, the civilian rulers have often relied on the military to preserve their power. Since the creation of Pakistan, the martial law has been called into effect three times. The military considers its authority of Pakistani politics as imperative to protect the territorial integrity of Pakistan with the various ethnic, linguistic, and regional diversity. In 1977, when General Zia ul-Haq took power, he used Islam to eliminate democratic elections and constitutional liberties. He also utilized Islam to legitimize his own control. Zia instituted a concept of Islamization that shifted the laws from a more secular tradition to an Islamic one. This abolished the value of Pakistani institutions, particularly their system of justice. Zias attempts to create an alliance with Muslim clerics in Pakistan, he offered them positions as judges. This allowed people with no previous legal qualifications in the seats of judges. This decision and change damaged the reliability of the Pakistani judiciary and also tied its power directly to the state and Zia. (Mustafa pg 168-84) Cultural and religious developments such as traditional Islamic influences and the strict enforcement of Sharia law, have negatively affected the countrys human rights situation. The prospects for the improvement of human rights in Pakistan are unwelcoming, although the country is ranked, according to the comparative survey of freedom worldwide, as being partly free. (Malik 117-28) Death from torture while in police custody is very common in Pakistan. Indistinct custody without any charges, that sometimes add up to one year, is not unusual. Speaking out against the regime is silenced, especially on matters relating to the military and religion. Forced or child labor is prevalent in rural areas, and the government appears incapable of recognizing and preventing it. After the threat of sanction by sporting goods manufacturers and labor organizations, Pakistani authorities have investigated child labor in the soccer ball industry. Ethnic and religious discrimination are rampant. The dif ferent minority groups in Pakistan that are continually targeted are: Baluchis, Pathans, Ahmediyans, Christians, Shiite Muslims, and Hindus. The Federal Sharia Court has prescribed the death penalty for insulting the Prophet Mohammad. Traditional and religious groups block political and legal equality for Pakistani women. An all-Pakistan Working Women Convention in Karachi uttered concerns over social attitudes towards women. The convention called for an end to abuse of property rights, inheritance, and social traditions. (Khan 181) Womens rights, however, are restricted in varying degrees in Pakistan. The underprivileged womens rights condition can often be attributed to actual underdevelopment, low female literacy rates, and harsh local traditions in the case of Pakistan, and to patriarchy, and to strict social codes. (Nizamani 317) While Pakistan has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, Pakistan have thus far refused to ratify those agreements (Malik 2007 117-28) More than half of Middle Eastern and North African countries have ratified the same covenants. Pakistan has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. With the exception of Saudi Arabia, which is not a party to any human rights instruments, all Muslim countries are a party to one or more of those instruments. Although the ratification of these human rights instruments is no evidence of palpable improvement of fundamental rights, becoming party to such treaties has at least made their governments vulnerable to international criticism in cases of grotesque violations of global standards. It should be noted, however, that effective enforcement of human rights instruments remains almost entirely within these countries purview. (Whaites 2005 229-54) The most active and vocal human rights monitoring groups, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Bonded Labor Liberation Front (BLLF), have been instrumental in promoting legislation which bans the bonded labor system. (S.V.R 2005 135-36) S A U D I A R A B I A Saudi Arabia is a monarchy without elected representative institutions or political parties. The Government has declared the Islamic holy book the Koran and the Sunna (tradition) of the Prophet Muhammad to be the countrys Constitution. The Government bases its legitimacy on governance according to the precepts of a rigorously conservative form of Islam. Neither the Government nor the society in general accepts the concept of separation of religion and state. The Government prohibits the establishment of political parties and suppresses opposition views. In 1992 King Fahd appointed a Consultative Council, or Majlis Ash-Shura, and similar provincial assemblies. The Majlis, a strictly advisory body, began holding sessions in 1993 and was expanded first in 1997 and again in May. The judiciary is subject to influence by the executive branch and members of the royal family. The Governments human rights record remained poor. Citizens have neither the right nor the legal means to change their government. Security forces continued to abuse detainees and prisoners, arbitrarily arrest and detain persons, and hold them in incommunicado detention. In addition there were allegations that security forces committed torture. The Mutawwain continued to intimidate, abuse, and detain citizens and foreigners. Most trials are closed, and defendants usually appear before judges without legal counsel. The Government infringes on citizens privacy rights. The government prohibits or restricts freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association, religion, and movement. However, the Government continued to tolerate a wider range of debate and criticism in the press concerning domestic issues. Other continuing problems included discrimination and violence against women, discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, and strict limitations on worker rights. The two declarations have inflamed on the Saudi constitution such article 26 and below, the state protects human rights in accordance with the Islamic (Shariah), the state guarantees the rights of the citizen and his family in cases of emergency, illness and disability, and in old age; it supports the system of social security and encourages institutions and individuals to contribute in acts of charity. The state provides security for all its citizens and all residents within its territory and no one shall be arrested, imprisoned, or have their actions restricted except in cases specified by statutes, the home is sacrosanct and shall not be entered without the permission of the owner or be searched except in cases specified by statutes, penalties shall be personal and there shall be no crime or penalty except in accordance with the (Shariah) or organizational law. There shall be no punishment except for acts committed subsequent to the coming into force of the organizational law, inf ormation, publication, all other media shall employ courteous language and the states regulations, and they shall contribute to the education of the nation and the encouragement of its unity. All acts that foster sedition or division, harm the states security and its public relations, or detract from mans dignity and rights shall be prohibited. The statutes shall define all that. Nevertheless, this is only the theory, what about the reality? Well Saudi Arabia is one of a number of countries where courts continue to impose corporal punishment, including amputations of hands and feet for robbery, and lashings for lesser crimes such as sexual deviance and drunkenness. The number of lashes is not clearly prescribed by law and is varied according to the discretion of judges. Saudi Arabia also still engages in capital punishment, including public executions by beheading. Some are also executed in private by shooting. There have also been allegations that stoning and crucifixion are carried out. Recently, in 2003, the case of Abd al-Karim Mara`i al-Naqshabandi, who was executed after being convicted of practicing witchcraft against his employer. The organization concluded that the Saudi legal system fails to provide minimum due process guarantees and offers myriad opportunities for well-connected individuals to manipulate the system to their advantage. By western standards Saudi women face severe discrimination in many aspects of their lives, including the family, education, employment, and the justice system. Women are not allowed to drive or ride bicycles on public roads. Religious police enforce a modest code of dress. Also it is illegal for Saudi women to go out, meet with men. If these laws are broken they are punishable by death. Freedom of speech and the press are restricted to forbid criticism of the government or endorsement of un-Islamic values. The government officially bans satellite television, but the rule is generally ignored. Trade unions and political organizations are banned. Public demonstrations are forbidden. Saudi Arabia forbids missionary work by any religion other than Islam. Officially all religions other than Islam are banned and churches are not allowed. Unofficially the government acknowledges that many of the foreign workers are Christian and on Aramco civilian compounds, foreign Christians are generally allowed to worship in private homes or even hold services at local schools provided that it is not spoken of in public. This is a degree of unofficial tolerance that is not given to Judaism, or Atheism. Freedom of religion does not exist, Islam is the official religion, and all citizens must be Muslims. The government prohibits the public practice of other religions. Foreigners must conform to local practices in public. Conservative dress is expected, especially for women who travel to rural areas. Shops and restaurants close five times a day for prayer, and public displays of foreign religious or political symbols is not be tolerated. During Ramadan eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight hours is prohibited. Foreign schools are often required to teach a yearly introductory segment on Islam. At October 27, 2005, a death sentence of Ahmad al-Dammam, an Egyptian boy resident in Dammam, who was convicted for a crime committed when he was thirteen years old, a Saudi court sentenced him to death in July 2005 for the April 2004 murder when he was thirteen years old of his neighbor, three-year-old Wala `Adil Abd al-Badi, also an Egyptian citizen, in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

The Hidden Life Of Dogs: Book Review :: essays research papers

The Hidden Life of Dogs: Book Review The Hidden Life Of Dogs was written by Elizabeth Thomas who is currently well know and highly re-spected for her books. Elizabeth Thomas was born in America and currently lives in New Hampshire. This is a book that is unlike any book ever written as it takes the perspective from a different angle. It was first published in the United States in 1993 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Elizabeth has written five books, all bestsellers. It is evident that her success is due to her intense research as she has travelled the world while writing her books. With international success, Elizabeth plans to continue her career that currently seems to be skyrocketing. "The Hidden Life Of Dogs" was not just any book. Clearly there was much more effort involved. Beginning with an introductory character, Misha who was a Husky, began the book well. This book tried to get the idea across that humans knew only very little about dogs and their patterns. After intense observations on Misha, some ideas were brought up. How did the dog know how to cross a highway on its own? How did its navigational skills work? How was it that this dog knew exactly where it was and could travel through different cities without becoming lost and other dogs couldn't? Continuing on to bringing in other dogs Elizabeth was studying, she pointed out that some had skills that others did not. Misha was clearly able to navigate himself but when with another dog, he would become lost. After careful observation it was seen that the other dog could easily loose track of where she was and mislead Misha. Another interesting topic covered is how dogs behave with each other. How they achieve their social status, why some dogs don't become accepted and how they react to each other. By comparing the dogs with the wolves and dingoes some of the dogs' actions become clearer, but there is one thing a dog really wants and that is to be with others, and to love their owner. It was explained how a dog defended a bird and mouse in a cage from another excited dog in the same house. Likely explanations for this could be because the older dog felt that the peace was not being maintained or perhaps he knew that the mouse and bird were his master's belongings and he should protect them. The book goes on to explaining what occurs between the dogs when they mate, why some dogs kill their litter and many other topics.

Traveling

Travelling Every day hundreds of people travel from one place to another. They travel to work, to school, or on business. Many people travel for pleasure and traveling has recently become one of the most popular hobbies. Traveling is also an interesting way of spending holidays. In every season of the year the airports, railway stations, seaports, and bus stops are full of people traveling for long or short distances. PLANE When people travel a long distance they usually travel by air.Travelling by air is exciting, fast, comfortable, relatively safe but rather expensive. In the 20th century it became one of the most important means of transport. It takes nearly 6 hours by plane to get from the western to the eastern coast of the U. S. A. There are several American Airlines, all of them private. They include the most popular and biggest airline companies such as the Pan American, Delta†¦ When people choose to travel by plane they usually go or phone to the airlines or travel agen cy to get information about flights.At the airport the passengers traveling with international or intercontinental airlines have to show their flight tickets and passports. An official weight their luggage can take only 20 kg. The passengers must also go through the customs. Then the passengers can go to the waiting room. In the plane the stewardess shows them their seats. Before the aircraft moves, the notices flash up „Fasten Your Safety Belts† and „No Smoking†. During the flight the stewardess offers the passengers some meals, drinks, cigarettes and sweets.The passengers can also read magazines. TRAIN Traveling by train is the most common form of travelling. In our country trains are used daily by many people to and from work or school. They are cheap, less polluting, safe but not very clean and comfortable. Fast trains are more comfortable for longer distances. They do not stop at every station. There are also a sleeping car and the dinning car in fast tr ains. Coaches are buses for long distance travelling. They are fast, comfortable and the prices of tickets are quit reasonable.During holidays the travel agencies offer many coach trips to the mountains or seaside resorts. CAR Many people sat, that car is the most comfortable mean of travelling and seeing places. Others think it is just a necessity because it is quicker than public transport. But for many people motoring is a pleasure. They enjoy driving a car at a high speed and do not think of the dangers of fast driving. The cars are comfortable and quick, but they are not safe and are rather expensive.In spite of that the number of cars on our roads and highways grows higher and higher every year. The growing number of cars is a danger not only for people but also for environment of the country. BIKE Many young people of all countries of the world like travelling by bike. Some go to school by bike; others prefer cycling as a sport or a hobby. In recent years many young people go for holiday trips by bike which is healthy and exciting. This type of travelling depend much on weather and therefore summer is the best season for cycling tours.

Business Plan For A Business - 1885 Words

As a business professional that has just earned their degree, one would want to know if they are equipped with the skills necessary to enter the workforce. After four to five years of taking business and accounting courses, students hope to be equipped with sufficient hard and soft skills. Different institutions offer different courses. As an undergraduate, there are courses available to help prepare the individual. Business Cornerstone will help them search and land a job. Then, there is a course like Business Communications, which will assist a business professional in communicating effectively and efficiently. As an accounting business professional, there are courses like Intermediate Accounting, Cost Accounting, Tax courses, and. Accounting Information Systems that potentially help with hard skills. Being taught and having the actual experience of those skills are two very different things. 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