* Parliamentarians urged to raise their voice against violators of international law and human rights
* Doha IPU meet represents an important and effective step to enhance cooperation among states and establish security and international law

A number of leading parliamentarians participating in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) General Assembly and its associated sessions have underlined the importance of education, which they said will eventually lead to more just and equitable societies by eradicating ignorance.

In their speeches at the session, "Parliaments as platforms to enhance education for peace, security and the rule of law", they criticised the policies of some countries in terms of violating international law, creating chaos and not respecting human rights and the rule of law, stressing that parliamentarians should not be silent about such violations.

They said parliaments should promote the cause of education which is the best tool to create just and equitable societies where the rule of law is respected, paving the way for international peace and development.

Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, said many countries in today's world are being ignored, violated and besieged, which requires parliamentarians to discuss these issues and not to remain silent.

Referring to such violations, he mentioned the US President recognising Israel's sovereignty over the Golan, which he said requires the censure of the international community. He pointed to a number of violations that affect some countries and attempts to impoverish their people and push them to take to the streets, as in the Middle East, and Venezuela in Latin America. The waves of refugees witnessed by some regions and countries have a direct link to such interventions, he said.

"We know who was behind the creation of the so-called terrorist state ISIS in Syria , which sought to overthrow the regime," he said adding that the policy of non-intervention must be the norm in international relations.

Volodin stressed the importance of the 140th IPU General Assembly and the related meetings being held in Doha, praising the arrangements made for the meetings and the hospitality and goodwill received by the participating delegations.

The Duma chairman noted the important role played by parliamentarians in achieving the goals of the international community in security, peace, the rule of law, peaceful coexistence and non-interference in the affairs of others.

He pointed out that dialogue, cooperation and lack of feeling of superiority are the qualities that distinguish educated people.

The Speaker of Iran's Islamic Consultative Assembly Ali Larijani said the meetings of the IPU General Assembly being held in Qatar represent an important and effective step to enhance cooperation between states and their parliaments and to establish security and international law.

Speaking at the General Assembly's general debate on the theme of "Parliaments as platforms to enhance education for peace, security and the rule of law," Larijani pointed out that security and peace could not be established without the rule of law.

He reviewed the great challenges in the area of the rule of law, peace and security, violations of human rights and ethnic cleansing, as in Al Quds and occupied Palestine, as well as the challenge of terrorism and hate speech, leading to the adoption of aggressive, expansionist and unfair policies and the imposition of double and unilateral standards by many states, which threaten international peace and security.

Larijani criticised what he called the economic terrorism practiced by the US administration against his country, indicating that this constituted a component of despair and loss of hope and isolation at the same time for this administration.

He said the Zionist attacks against Al Aqsa and Al Quds Al Sharif, ethnic cleansing, inhuman and illegal expansionist measures, double standards, and the malignant approach to combating terrorism reflect a flagrant violation of international law and the extraction of the US-Israeli policy.

He said all Muslim countries reject these terrorist and discriminatory policies, adding that in this situation the Palestinians have no choice but to continue the struggle and resistance to achieve their legitimate rights.

In the light of these current global policies and changes, parliamentarians must identify common ways and frameworks for achieving cooperation and adopting mechanisms that support common benefits, he noted.

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