Mahmut Şahin, a member of the Central Executive Board of HÜDA PAR, has delivered a strong and wide-ranging critique of the international human rights system, declaring that the global order has suffered a “serious collapse” in its commitment to justice and human dignity.

His statement, issued to mark December 10, World Human Rights Day, focused particularly on the ongoing suffering in Palestine and East Turkestan, as well as crises affecting broader regions of the Muslim world.

Şahin stated that the promise of universal human rights has been emptied of its real meaning, as millions of people around the world continue to live under systematic oppression. He emphasized that from East Turkestan to Myanmar, Yemen, Libya, Palestine, and Sudan, entire populations are being subjected to marginalization, violence, poverty, and denial of their most basic rights. According to Şahin, these realities stand in stark contrast to the lofty principles expressed in international declarations and conventions.

Şahin argued that the international system has become dominated by power politics rather than moral responsibility. He said that powerful states and global institutions selectively apply human rights principles based on political and economic interests, rather than universal standards. As a result, he claimed, the voices of the oppressed are consistently ignored, while the priorities of influential actors are amplified.

He reserved particularly strong criticism for the international response to the situation in Gaza, describing the ongoing violence, humanitarian crisis, and destruction of civilian infrastructure as a clear example of global double standards. He said that the silence of world powers in the face of starving children and bombed hospitals has left a permanent scar on the collective conscience of humanity.

According to Şahin, true commitment to human rights cannot exist without active solidarity with those who are suffering. He stated that human rights language becomes meaningless when it is not backed by moral courage and practical action. “Standing with the oppressed is not a choice but an obligation,” he asserted, emphasizing that justice must be defended consistently, regardless of political convenience or geographic location.

In a notable part of his statement, Şahin also turned his attention inward, acknowledging that Türkiye itself faces serious challenges related to justice and human dignity. He pointed to economic hardship, growing inequality, rising anxiety among young people, prolonged legal proceedings, and increasing social polarization as problems that directly harm the dignity of citizens.

He stressed that no country can credibly speak about human rights on the international stage while failing to establish justice and fairness within its own borders.

Şahin framed his views within a religious understanding of human dignity, stating that the worth of human beings is not granted by institutions or governments, but by God. He emphasized that, in his view, human rights are not flexible political tools but divinely rooted principles that do not change with time, power, or ideology.

He concluded his statement by reaffirming HÜDA PAR’s commitment to speaking out on behalf of oppressed peoples everywhere, declaring that they would continue to be a voice for the marginalized and persecuted, regardless of borders or political pressures.

The statement has drawn attention for its strong language and comprehensive critique, while reflecting broader debates in Türkiye and the Muslim world over the credibility, consistency, and future of the global human rights system. (ILKHA)