Human rights conference, Leicester University UK

national | miscellaneous | news report Sunday May 12, 2002 22:32 by Sal Achhala

At a Human rights conference held at Leicester University startling Statements were made by British Journalist Yvonne Ridley (who was captured by the Taliban) on Islam, Afghanistan and Israel. Also attending were Rabbi Yakub Weiss from the London Jewish community who clarified his communities position on Israel

At a Human rights Conference held at the University of Leicester in England on the 12th May 2002 the right wing British Journalist Yvonne Ridley who was arrested and held by the Taliban made some startling statements concerning Islam and her treatment at the hands of the taliban."When I was released everyone expected me to relay horrific tales of brutality (but the) Taliban treated me with great respect" and with great deliberation she added "..very very well". She went on to say that whilst the taliban had its faults but they were on the whole 'likeable'. However this was not what the west wanted to hear, they could not be seen to be bombing a people who were 'likeable.
In exchange for her treatment at the hands of the Taliban she promised them she would read the Koran upon her return to the UK.

As a result of this she claimed that what she discovered about Islam was an eye opener , describing Islam as "a great unifier, a religion of social justice, it transcends race and national borders. Islam has inspired more Scholars, mystics and poets then soldiers" going on to say "since the crusades the west has held a stereotypical image of Islam, (that) women are subjugated is a nonsense. I admire the way it supports and promotes women." adding how people often mix up religion and cultures.
Her final response on Islam being "Its an amazing religion, I don't know if I will convert, I still need to understand more"

When asked about the Israeli massacres of Palestinians at the Jenin Camp she replied "What I saw in Jenin, any nazi from the 2nd world war would have been very proud. This is ethnic cleaning, make no doubt about it. Nothing more then state terrorism" and "I wouldn't be surprised if the next Bin Laden will be born from the ashes of Jenin"
On terrorism she commented "I would like to ban the word terrorist, a terrorist is
(someone) squeezed and squeezed until there is no hope left (in him)"
She claimed The peace movement is growing in Israel but (unfortunately) there is huge support for Sharons policy in the USA.

Of all Yvonne Ridley's comments the most startling were her call for a boycott on companies which support Israel stating "if we hit them financially (by) not going to
starbucks and any (place) that supports them" she concluded by further
extending her call for a boycott on American goods "Don't buy Coke cola, don't buy
McDonalds. Americans live for money, hit them where it hurts"

She was however rather coy on the question of the Media and whether it was controlled cautiously saying to an extent the media is controlled but refusing to delve further into this.

Attending the same Conference on Human Rights was Rabbi Yakub Weis from the London orthodox Jewish community who reiterated his communities Anti Zionist stance. We pray for the speedy (and) peaceful dismantlement of the Zionist state. We will continue to condemn it until it no longer exists he went on to talk about how the creation of the State of Israel was instigated by Atheist Jews whose purpose behind its creation was money, these Jews were labelled Zionist.

The overwhelming conclusion from the conference was a genuine search to address the root causes of human rights abuses as opposed to dismissively laying the blame on religion which is often the case with mainstream media, it was also reassuring to see a journalist working for such pro capitalist right wing media such as the Daily Mail and the The Express have the integrity and honesty, away from the constraints set by corporate media, to show true investigative journalism.