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United Nations Human Rights Expert Reports on 'Appalling, Intolerable and Tragic Conditions' for Ordinary Palestinians

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sept. 26, 2006 (MASNET and News Sources) Describing a ?tragic? human rights situation for ordinary Palestinians living in the occupied territory, John Dugard, special reporter on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories since 1967, presented a report this week to the newly-established United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Human Rights Council is made up of 47 United Nations (U.N.) member states.

Dugard is an unpaid expert who investigates human rights situations throughout the world and issues reports to U.N. bodies like the Human Rights Council and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

In issuing his report Dugard commented that he only wished to speak about "Israeli actions against ordinary, non-militant, non-activist Palestinians who simply wanted to lead a good life, educate their children, and enjoy the basic amenities of life."

His comments, however, were sharply criticized by Israeli Ambassador Itzhak Levanon, who said that "there could be no value in a report that follows a ?one-sided and imbalanced? mandate that did not conform to the reality on the ground and which prejudiced key issues."

Palestinian representative Mohammad Abu-Koash, however, thanked Dugard for his report and warned that the Middle East was in turmoil while no genuine effort had been expended to address its root causes, namely, ending the Israeli occupation of Palestinian, Syrian, and Lebanese territories.

In a response to this report, MAS Freedom Foundation Executive Director Mahdi Bray stated, "The Muslim American Society completely agrees with the assessment that the conditions facing ordinary Palestinian men, women, and children are indeed appalling."

Bray continued, "This tragedy can only be fully remedied by ending the occupation of Palestinian and Lebanese land, and fully respecting the human rights of all the peoples of this region. Our Free Palestine campaign focuses on support for the end to Israeli occupation, and continues to reach out to Muslim citizens, and all people of faith, to organize themselves as a powerful voice calling for true justice for the Palestinian people."

The Muslim American Society's Freedom Foundation has recently appointed renowned peace activist Ibrahim Ramey to head the newly created MAS Freedom Foundation Human and Civil Rights Division.

As a part of its mandate, and under Ramey's leadership, the Human and Civil Rights Division will work to amplify the demand for justice by peace and freedom-loving Muslims in the United States, and expand the organization's coalition-building work to effectively end the occupation and create a framework for a truly just and even-handed United States foreign policy in the Middle East.

Ramey also serves as a member of the Steering Committee of Religious NGO's at the United Nation, a coordinating body for more than 100 faith-based national and international Non-Governmental Organizations.

See Also: Renowned Muslim Peace Activist Heads New MAS Freedom Human and Civil Rights Division

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The Freedom Foundation is the public affairs arm of the Muslim American Society (MAS), a national grassroots religious, social, and educational organization. MAS is America's largest grassroots Muslim organization with over 50 chapters nationwide. Learn more at www.masnet.org.

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