B’NAI BRITH CALLS FOR ISSUE OF TALEBAN TO BE PLACED ON AGENDA OF UN WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM

Rejects attempts by Taleban to justify religious persecution

May 24, 2001

For Immediate Release

Toronto, May 24, 2001… B’nai Brith Canada has unequivocally rejected attempts by the Taleban to justify its decision to force all non-Muslims to wear yellow badges, and has called on the human rights community to ensure that this dangerous development is put on the agenda of the UN World Conference against Racism.

“It is ludicrous to claim that such a discriminatory policy will protect non-Muslims from the attention of religious police”, said Rochelle Wilner, President of B’nai Brith Canada. “History has taught us that categorizing people, whether by race, by religion, by gender, or by any other distinction that makes us unique, can only be a precursor to further human rights abuses. In addition, the fall-out of this disturbing development will not be confined to Afghanistan alone but has the potential to expose the entire region to the threat of similar policies gaining currency. It is also disturbing to note that the colour yellow - the very symbol of the Nazi persecution of the Jews - was chosen by the Taleban movement, which espouses an extremist Islamic ideology.”

Frank Dimant, Executive Vice President, added: “The egregious human rights abuses of the Taleban have once again become a focus of condemnation in the West, but this trend is not new. It is little more than two months ago that the human rights community condemned the Taleban destruction of age-old Buddha statues, but beyond expressions of horror and denunciation, the world has been largely inactive. Surely it would be fitting for this new human rights assault based on religion - the very epitome of racism - to be placed front and centre on the agenda of the much touted World Conference against Racism, which is currently being used as a political tool against Israel rather than as an opportunity to focus on the real purveyors of racism worldwide.”

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B’nai Brith has been active in Canada since 1875 as the community’s senior advocacy and volunteer organization.

For more information, please contact:
Rochelle Wilner or Frank Dimant at (416) 633-6224