Hujjat al-Islam Seyyed Ehsan Rafiei Alavi, Chancellor of Baqir al-Olum University (PBUH) delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the first international conference on Human Rights in Eastern Approach, which was held in Fatima Al-Zahra (PBUH) Hall of the Islamic Culture and Communications Organization. He expressed condolences following the incident in Shahid Rajaee Port, adding,” This conference will promise a new horizon in the thought of human rights. As a leading university in the humanities with the slogan “Wisdom for Life”, Baqir al-Olum university considers itself obliged to a public mission in line with global human rights.”
Hujjat al-Islam Rafiei Alavi further noted that today, in a world where the human rights discourse has been shaped within the framework of the dominant unilateralism for interpreting human nature, the need for a radical rethinking of the foundations of this discourse is felt more than ever.
He added, “The meaning of the East in this approach is not limited to a single territory, rather a vast cultural geography spanning five continents that has experienced a life focused on peace, dignity, diversity, and coexistence. Eastern human rights are an attempt to rethink human rights on a global scale.”
“In many societies, human rights do not reflect the civilizational reality of human life. Conventional human rights do not have the necessary effectiveness and have not been able to function adequately in wars, forced migrations, genocides, and structured violence.” He added.
Hujjat al-Islam Rafiei Alavi stated,” The cultural approach and the cultural east, adhering to the principles of inherent dignity, comprehensive justice, and moral responsibility, offer a new perspective in the international human rights.”
He emphasized that the authenticity of cultures, civilizations and human identity, the broad link between social and cultural rights and responsibilities, the redefinition of human rights activists, and the establishment of legal institutions for the effective activism of religions, cultures, and civilizations in the development of global human rights are among the pillars of the cultural East.
Rafiei went on to say,” The road ahead is a difficult one, but it is promising. Realizing the ideals of human rights based on justice and human dignity requires the establishment of sustainable and constructive solidarity among civilizations and religions, the role of scientific elites and intellectuals, and the reexamination of the roots of points of tension and disagreement among cultures based on the cultural human. We need a practical hermeneutics based on cultural multilateralism; A hermeneutic based on the inherent dignity of man and respectful coexistence. Although this path is difficult, one should not be afraid of active, creative dialogue and interaction among cultures.”
He clarified,” This conference is more than a scientific one; it is the beginning of strategic activism at the international level of human rights. A model that aims to gradually establish the principles and values of this approach in the field of international rules by producing deep and systematic arguments based on civilizational capacities.”
The Chancellor of Baqir al-Olum University (PBUH) added,” The mission of present gathering is not only to criticize the past but also to build a new future for the construction of global human rights. Now is a historic opportunity that, if accompanied by wisdom, patience and firm determination, will be able to create new horizons in the history of human civilization.”
It is worth noting that the closing ceremony of this international conference will be held on Wednesday at Ghadir International Conference Hall of Islamic Propaganda Office in Qom.
