Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam,Aug. 5, 1990, U.N. GAOR, orl! Con". on Hum. Rts., #th $ess., Agen!

a Item 5, U.N. Doc. A%CON&.15'%(C%)*%A!!.1+ ,199-. /0nglish translation1.

The Nineteenth Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session of Peace, Interdependence and Development), held in Cairo, Ara !ep" lic of #g$pt, from %&'( M"harram '('') (*' +"l$ to , A"g"st '%%-), .eenl$ a/are of the place of man0ind in Islam as vicegerent of Allah on #arth1 !ecogni2ing the importance of iss"ing a Doc"ment on )"man !ights in Islam that /ill serve as a g"ide for Mem er states in all aspects of life1 )aving e3amined the stages thro"gh /hich the preparation of this draft Doc"ment has so far, passed and the relevant report of the Secretar$ 4eneral1 )aving e3amined the !eport of the Meeting of the Committee of 5egal #3perts held in Tehran from 67 to 68 Decem er, '%8%1 Agrees to iss"e the Cairo Declaration on )"man !ights in Islam that /ill serve as a general g"idance for Mem er States in the Field of h"man rights9 !eaffirming the civili2ing and historical role of the Islamic :mmah /hich Allah made as the est comm"nit$ and /hich gave h"manit$ a "niversal and /ell& alanced civili2ation, in /hich harmon$ is esta lished et/een here"nder and the hereafter, 0no/ledge is com ined /ith faith, and to f"lfill the e3pectations from this comm"nit$ to g"ide all h"manit$ /hich is conf"sed eca"se of different and conflicting eliefs and ideologies and to provide sol"tions for all chronic pro lems of this materialistic civili2ation9 In contri "tion to the efforts of man0ind to assert h"man rights, to protect man from e3ploitation and persec"tion, and to affirm his freedom and right to a dignified life in accordance /ith the Islamic Shari;ah9 Convinced that man0ind /hich has reached an advanced stage in materialistic science is still, and shall remain, in dire need of faith to s"pport its civili2ation as /ell as a self motivating force to g"ard its rights1 <elieving that f"ndamental rights and freedoms according to Islam are an integral part of the Islamic religion and that no one shall have the right as a matter of principle to a olish them either in /hole or in part or to violate or ignore them in as m"ch as the$ are inding divine commands, /hich are contained in the !evealed <oo0s of Allah and /hich /ere sent thro"gh the last of )is Prophets to complete the preceding divine messages and that

safeg"arding those f"ndamental rights and freedoms is an act of /orship /hereas the neglect or violation thereof is an a omina le sin, and that the safeg"arding of those f"ndamental rights and freedom is an individ"al responsi ilit$ of ever$ person and a collective responsi ilit$ of the entire :mmah1 Do here $ and on the asis of the a ove&mentioned principles declare as follo/s= A!TIC5# '= (a) All h"man eings form one famil$ /hose mem ers are "nited $ their s" ordination to Allah and descent from Adam9 All men are e>"al in terms of asic h"man dignit$ and asic o ligations and responsi ilities, /itho"t an$ discrimination on the asis of race, colo"r, lang"age, elief, se3, religion, political affiliation, social stat"s or other considerations9 The tr"e religion is the g"arantee for enhancing s"ch dignit$ along the path to h"man integrit$9 ( ) All h"man eings are Allah;s s" ?ects, and the most loved $ )im are those /ho are most eneficial to )is s" ?ects, and no one has s"periorit$ over another e3cept on the asis of piet$ and good deeds9

A!TIC5# 6= (a) 5ife is a 4od&given gift and the right to life is g"aranteed to ever$ h"man eing9 It is the d"t$ of individ"als, societies and states to safeg"ard this right against an$ violation, and it is prohi ited to ta0e a/a$ life e3cept for a shari;ah prescri ed reason9 ( ) It is for idden to resort to an$ means /hich co"ld res"lt in the genocidal annihilation of man0ind9 (c) The preservation of h"man life thro"gho"t the term of time /illed $ Allah is a d"t$ prescri ed $ Shari;ah9 (d) Safet$ from odil$ harm is a g"aranteed right9 It is the d"t$ of the state to safeg"ard it, and it is prohi ited to reach it /itho"t a Shari;ah&prescri ed reason9

A!TIC5# *= (a) In the event of the "se of force and in case of armed conflict, it is not permissi le to 0ill non& elligerents s"ch as old men, /omen and children9 The /o"nded and the sic0 shall have the right to medical treatment1 and prisoners of /ar shall have the right to e fed, sheltered and clothed9 It is prohi ited to m"tilate or dismem er dead odies9 It is

re>"ired to e3change prisoners of /ar and to arrange visits or re"nions of families separated $ circ"mstances of /ar9 ( ) It is prohi ited to c"t do/n trees, to destro$ crops or livestoc0, to destro$ the enem$;s civilian "ildings and installations $ shelling, lasting or an$ other means9

A!TIC5# (= #ver$ h"man eing is entitled to h"man sanctit$ and the protection of one;s good name and hono"r d"ring one;s life and after one;s death9 The state and the societ$ shall protect one;s od$ and "rial place from desecration9

A!TIC5# ,= (a) The famil$ is the fo"ndation of societ$, and marriage is the asis of ma0ing a famil$9 Men and /omen have the right to marriage, and no restrictions stemming from race, colo"r or nationalit$ shall prevent them from e3ercising this right9 ( ) The societ$ and the State shall remove all o stacles to marriage and facilitate it, and shall protect the famil$ and safeg"ard its /elfare9 A!TIC5# 7= (a) @oman is e>"al to man in h"man dignit$, and has her o/n rights to en?o$ as /ell as d"ties to perform, and has her o/n civil entit$ and financial independence, and the right to retain her name and lineage9 ( ) The h"s and is responsi le for the maintenance and /elfare of the famil$9

A!TIC5# A= (a) As of the moment of irth, ever$ child has rights d"e from the parents, the societ$ and the state to e accorded proper n"rsing, ed"cation and material, h$gienic and moral care9 <oth the fet"s and the mother m"st e safeg"arded and accorded special care9 ( ) Parents and those in s"ch li0e capacit$ have the right to choose the t$pe of ed"cation the$ desire for their children, provided the$ ta0e into consideration the interest and f"t"re of the children in accordance /ith ethical val"es and the principles of the Shari;ah9

(c) <oth parents are entitled to certain rights from their children, and relatives are entitled to rights from their 0in, in accordance /ith the tenets of the shari;ah9

A!TC5# 8= #ver$ h"man eing has the right to en?o$ a legitimate eligi ilit$ /ith all its prerogatives and o ligations in case s"ch eligi ilit$ is lost or impaired, the person shall have the right to e represented $ hisBher g"ardian9 A!TIC5# %= (a) The see0ing of 0no/ledge is an o ligation and provision of ed"cation is the d"t$ of the societ$ and the State9 The State shall ens"re the availa ilit$ of /a$s and means to ac>"ire ed"cation and shall g"arantee its diversit$ in the interest of the societ$ so as to ena le man to e ac>"ainted /ith the religion of Islam and "ncover the secrets of the :niverse for the enefit of man0ind9 ( ) #ver$ h"man eing has a right to receive oth religio"s and /orldl$ ed"cation from the vario"s instit"tions of teaching, ed"cation and g"idance, incl"ding the famil$, the school, the "niversit$, the media, etc9, and in s"ch an integrated and alanced manner that /o"ld develop h"man personalit$, strengthen man;s faith in Allah and promote man;s respect to and defence of oth rights and o ligations9

A!TIC5# '-= Islam is the religion of tr"e "nspoiled nat"re9 It is prohi ited to e3ercise an$ form of press"re on man or to e3ploit his povert$ or ignorance in order to force him to change his religion to another religion or to atheism9

A!TIC5# ''= (a) )"man eings are orn free, and no one has the right to enslave, h"miliate, oppress or e3ploit them, and there can e no s" ?"gation "t to Allah the Almight$9 ( ) Colonialism of all t$pes eing one of the most evil forms of enslavement is totall$ prohi ited9 Peoples s"ffering from colonialism have the f"ll right to freedom and self& determination9 It is the d"t$ of all States peoples to s"pport the str"ggle of coloni2ed peoples for the li>"idation of all forms of and occ"pation, and all States and peoples have the right to preserve their independent identit$ and econtrol over their /ealth and nat"ral reso"rces9

A!TIC5# '6= #ver$ man shall have the right, /ithin the frame/or0 of the Shari;ah, to free movement and to select his place of residence /hether /ithin or o"tside his co"ntr$ and if persec"ted, is entitled to see0 as$l"m in another co"ntr$9 The co"ntr$ of ref"ge shall e o liged to provide protection to the as$l"m&see0er "ntil his safet$ has een attained, "nless as$l"m is motivated $ committing an act regarded $ the Shari;ah as a crime9

A!TIC5# '*= @or0 is a right g"aranteed $ the State and the Societ$ for each person /ith capa ilit$ to /or09 #ver$one shall e free to choose the /or0 that s"its him est and /hich serves his interests as /ell as those of the societ$9 The emplo$ee shall have the right to en?o$ safet$ and sec"rit$ as /ell as all other social g"arantees9 )e ma$ not e assigned /or0 e$ond his capacit$ nor shall he e s" ?ected to comp"lsion or e3ploited or harmed in an$ /a$9 )e shall e entitled & /itho"t an$ discrimination et/een males and females & to fair /ages for his /or0 /itho"t dela$, as /ell as to the holida$s allo/ances and promotions /hich he deserves9 Cn his part, he shall e re>"ired to e dedicated and metic"lo"s in his /or09 Sho"ld /or0ers and emplo$ers disagree on an$ matter, the State shall intervene to settle the disp"te and have the grievances redressed, the rights confirmed and ?"stice enforced /itho"t ias9

A!TIC5# '(= #ver$one shall have the right to earn a legitimate living /itho"t monopoli2ation, deceit or ca"sing harm to oneself or to others9 :s"r$ (ri a) is e3plicitl$ prohi ited9

A!TIC5# ',= (a) #ver$one shall have the right to o/n propert$ ac>"ired in a legitimate /a$, and shall e entitled to the rights of o/nership /itho"t pre?"dice to oneself, others or the societ$ in general9 #3propriation is not permissi le e3cept for re>"irements of p" lic interest and "pon pa$ment of prompt and fair compensation9 ( ) Confiscation and sei2"re of propert$ is prohi ited e3cept for a necessit$ dictated $ la/9

A!TIC5# '7= #ver$one shall have the right to en?o$ the fr"its of his scientific, literar$, artistic or technical la o"r of /hich he is the a"thor1 and he shall have the right to the protection of his moral and material interests stemming therefrom, provided it is not contrar$ to the principles of the Shari;ah9

A!TIC5# 'A= (a) #ver$one shall have the right to live in a clean environment, a/a$ from vice and moral corr"ption, that /o"ld favo"r a health$ ethical development of his person and it is inc"m ent "pon the State and societ$ in general to afford that right9 ( ) #ver$one shall have the right to medical and social care, and to all p" lic amenities provided $ societ$ and the State /ithin the limits of their availa le reso"rces9 (c) The States shall ens"re the right of the individ"al to a decent living that ma$ ena le him to meet his re>"irements and those of his dependents, incl"ding food, clothing, ho"sing, ed"cation, medical care and all other asic needs9

A!TIC5# '8= (a) #ver$one shall have the right to live in sec"rit$ for himself, his religion, his dependents, his hono"r and his propert$9 ( ) #ver$one shall have the right to privac$ in the cond"ct of his private affairs, in his home, among his famil$, /ith regard to his propert$ and his relationships9 It is not permitted to sp$ on him, to place him "nder s"rveillance or to esmirch his good name9 The State shall protect him from ar itrar$ interference9 (c) A private residence is inviola le in all cases9 It /ill not e entered /itho"t permission from its inha itants or in an$ "nla/f"l manner, nor shall it e demolished or confiscated and its d/ellers evicted9

A!TIC5# '%= (a) All individ"als are e>"al efore the la/, /itho"t distinction et/een the r"ler and the r"led9

( ) The right to resort to ?"stice is g"aranteed to ever$one9 (c) 5ia ilit$ is in essence personal9 (d) There shall e no crime or p"nishment e3cept as provided for in the Shari;ah9 (e) A defendant is innocent "ntil his g"ilt is proven in a fast trial in /hich he shall e given all the g"arantees of defence9

A!TIC5# 6-= It is not permitted /itho"t legitimate reason to arrest an individ"al, or restrict his freedom, to e3ile or to p"nish him9 It is not permitted to s" ?ect him to ph$sical or ps$chological tort"re or to an$ form of maltreatment, cr"elt$ or indignit$9 Nor is it permitted to s" ?ect an individ"al to medical or scientific e3periments /itho"t hisconsent or at the ris0 of his health or of his life9 Nor is it permitted to prom"lgate emergenc$ la/s that /o"ld provide e3ec"tive a"thorit$ for s"ch actions9

A!TIC5# 6'= Ta0ing hostages "nder an$ form or for an$ p"rpose is e3pressl$ for idden9

A!TIC5# 66= (a) #ver$one shall have the right to e3press his opinion freel$ in s"ch manner as /o"ld not e contrar$ to the principles of the Shari;ah9 '99 #ver$one shall have the right to advocate /hat is right, and propagate /hat is good, and /arn against /hat is /rong and evil according to the norms of Islamic Shari;ah9 (c) Information is a vital necessit$ to societ$9 It ma$ not e e3ploited or mis"sed in s"ch a /a$ as ma$ violate sanctities and the dignit$ of Prophets, "ndermine moral and ethical Dal"es or disintegrate, corr"pt or harm societ$ or /ea0en its faith9 (d) It is not permitted to e3cite nationalistic or doctrinal hatred or to do an$thing that ma$ e an incitement to an$ form or racial discrimination9

A!TIC5# 6*=

(a) A"thorit$ is a tr"st1 and a "se or malicio"s e3ploitation thereof is e3plicitl$ prohi ited, in order to g"arantee f"ndamental h"man rights9 ( ) #ver$one shall have the right to participate, directl$ or indirectl$ in the administration of his co"ntr$;s p" lic affairs9 )e shall also have the right to ass"me p" lic office in accordance /ith the provisions of Shari;ah9 A!TIC5# 6(= All the rights and freedoms stip"lated in this Declaration are s" ?ect to the Islamic Shari;ah9

A!TIC5# 6,= The Islamic Shari;ah is the onl$ so"rce of reference for the e3planation or clarification of an$ of the articles of this Declaration9