And this political prominence is perhaps one of the main reasons why religion and Human Rights “do not mix very easily,” (1) why Human Rights so often clash with religious narratives and traditions. The fact that Human Rights discourse has also been used to justify military interventions disguised as humanitarian actions (3) does not diminish its importance – it is actually evidence that even those who violate Human Rights recognise their power in contemporary politics. Human Rights, Natural Law and TheologyThere is no doubt that Human Rights are a direct descendant from Natural Rights. I believe a similar argument could be applied to the universality of Human Rights to answer this insincere question: it is those who committed crimes and will be punished by the state who need their Human Rights most. (7) Alexandra Xanthaki, “When Universalism Becomes a Bully: Revisiting the Interplay Between Cultural Rights and Women’s Rights,” Human Rights Quarterly 41, no.

Source: The Guardian February 13, 2024 17:04 UTC