Acts of savagery

Dear Sir,The hostage tragedy in Dhaka, the bombings in Baghdad and the terror attack in Istanbul are all acts of savagery that the entire world must condemn.The seizing of innocent civilians for ransom is not only a violation of international law but also an act of barbarism condemned by Islam and all Muslims.The wars across the globe rage on unabated and the lamenting cries of people go unanswered.All faiths in the world are unambiguous on the sanctity of human life and on the protection of all forms of creation.Every act of war directed at the indiscriminate destruction of vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation.It was Edward Gibon who in 1794 said: “So long as mankind continues to lavish more praise upon its destroyers than upon its benefactors, war shall remain the chief pursuit of ambitious minds.”Even the concept of holy war is denounced in Islam because in Islam war can only be characterised as either just, or unjust, not holy.The Qur’an permits a just war, if it is waged to remove tyranny and oppression.The Qur’an is categorical in denouncing all wars of aggression.(And fight in God’s cause against those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression, for verily God does not love aggressors - Qur’ran: 2: 190)Warcrimes are being committed in Syria and Iraq.A most authoritative capsule statement of warcrimes under international law is that found in the charter of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg (FN7) and by a unanimous resolution of the United Nations General Assembly: (FN8) Warcrimes (are) violation of the laws or customs of war (which) include, but (are) not limited to, murder, ill-treatment of prisoners of war, killing of hostages, plunder of or (p6 1058) private property, wanton destruction of cities, towns, or villages, or devastation not justified by military necessity.It’s time for the international community to intervene.Farouk Araie, farouk.araie@telkomsa.netPlease send us your  letters By e-mail: editor@gulf-times.com