Islam backs protection of human rights but it must be interpreted in the context of religious teachings and local cultures, said PAS’ Kuala Nerus MP Khairuddin Aman Razali.

In a statement in conjunction with Human Rights Day yesterday, he said that human rights defenders must thus not only be guided by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

He also cautioned against seeing human rights as a form of religion.

“It is sad and concerning when some human rights defenders become obsessed and blindly follow the UDHR as a single form of reference on human rights.

“In our country’s context, human rights issues must be seen alongside religion, ethics and culture, and must be in line with Islamic teachings and the federal constitution.

“Otherwise, it will corrode religious tenets of life and invite moral decay within society,” said Khairuddin ( left ).

Other references for human rights include the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam (CHHRI) which places syariah as the sole guide.

CDHRI negates stereotypes that Islam oppresses and restricts freedom, he said.

In fact, he said, Muslims are encouraged to protect others from exploitation and victimisation and safeguards the right for all to live a free and dignified life according to the syariah.

“No matter how advanced human beings become, they still need belief and religious faith to guide behaviour and to become a universal driver to defend human rights,” he said.

In a separate statement, Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong expressed disappointment that some perceive human rights as a Western concept.

He said as a democratic country, Malaysia should strive to protect these basic rights and must ratify United Nations conventions on human rights.

“We need greater understanding and conformity within our society on national human rights practices to thread in with international human rights standards in our hope of becoming a democratically mature nation.”