“Stand up” against injustice – Pres Ali at Islam Awareness Week launch

As Guyana observes Islam Awareness Week, President Dr Irfaan Ali has called for one voice to be sounded in standing up against injustices across the world and locally.
The theme for this year’s Islam Awareness Week is: “Islam: Justice, Dignity and Equality for All.”
As he addressed the Islamic community during a launching ceremony on Friday at the Muslim Youth Organisation Complex, Woolford Avenue, Thomas Lands, Georgetown, the Guyanese Head of State underscored that elements which cause oppression, inequality and injustice has no place in society.
“In every equation, you have to do something whenever there is injustice. Undemocratic forces, people who do not uphold the rule of law, people who spread hate and division, they’re not part of a system of justice, and we have to stand up against it. We can’t sit down and be part of that. We must be willing to call it out.”

He added, “We have to be consistent in our calls. If there is terrorism, we have to speak out in one voice against it. If there is oppression, we have to speak up against it in one voice. If there are undemocratic forces, we have to step up against it in one voice. What we want of the world is what we must show the world we are willing to give.”
Reference was drawn to Guyana’s support for Palestine in the ongoing Gaza conflict, and many other instances of injustice around the world. He contended that it was not a religious war, but one which has generated support from people of all faiths.
“Our country Guyana, as a Government, have consistently stood on the side of what is right for Palestine, Cuba, for every country that suffered as a result of some form of injustice. We stood on the side of justice against terrorists and terrorism, because that has no place in Islam. We stood on the side of justice for the Palestinian people because they deserve to live in dignity and within their sovereign space.”
Just last Thursday, the Guyana Government pledged US$150,000 towards the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in support of Palestinians who are displaced and affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“This is the first publicly televised genocide in the history of our world. More importantly, when we call for justice, dignity and fairness, we expected that when we’re in a position which require others to stand on the side of justice, they will stand by. When we needed the support against the threat to our own borders and sovereignty, unfortunately though we stood every time with everyone that was oppressed, fanciful footwork, language and diplomacy was used – all falling short in standing up for justice and equality,” Ali remarked.
Meanwhile, Guyana Islamic Trust President Shaikh Abdool Aleem Rahim shared that the teachings of Islam are founded on the pillars of justice and equality.
The Shaikh relayed, “Islam teaches us that we are all on equal footing and we have to strive for justice in every aspect of our lives and existence in this world; justice in our relationship with Allah and in our relationship with the creation of Allah.” (G12)