Shahroudi: West uses human rights as a stick against Muslim states

9 September 2008

Tehran-Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi said here Tuesday that the West has turned Human Rights into a stick to encounter Muslim states.

Ayatollah Shahroudi told Nigerian Ambassador to Tehran Al Haji Abubakar Cika that Muslim countries and the Third World states should close their ranks and get united.

"The only way to get rid of colonialism and global arrogance is unity and solidarity among states and vigilance vis-a-vis the deceitful ploys of the global arrogance to dominate the oppressed nations," Shahroudi said.

He said that through unity among the oppressed states and cooperation among Muslims, the interests of nations can be guaranteed.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Shahroudi said the so-called advocates of human rights and freedom have committed numerous crimes under false slogans and today too the crimes are being committed in new forms.

He said Iran is ready to expand judicial cooperation with Nigeria.

The Nigerian diplomat said for his part that his country is ready to utilize Iran's judicial experience.

He said the meeting of Muslim states judiciary heads, held in Iran last year, was a valuable step towards bolstering judicial cooperation among Muslim states.