The hostage tragedy in Dhaka, the bombings in Baghdad and the terror attack in Jeddah are acts of savagery that the entire world must condemn.
Making innocent civilians hostage, for reasons whatsoever, is not only a violation of international law, but an act of barbarism condemned by Islam.
All faiths in the world are unanimous on the sanctity and protection of all forms of creation including human life.
Any act of war involving wanton destruction of life and property including environmental wealth is a crime against both God and humanity, which merits a firm and unequivocal condemnation.
Edward Gibon said in 1794: “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 characterized as either just, or unjust.
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’an, 2:190) A most authoritative capsule statement of war crimes under international law is that found in the charter of the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg FN7 and by a unanimous resolution of the UN General Assembly: FN8 War crimes (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 to save innocent lives in Syria and Iraq. — Farouk Araie, Johannesburg
War crimes
