Photo: AP
Strasbourg: Jordan's Senate Speaker, Faisal Al-Fayez, accused Western nations of applying "double standards" to democracy and public liberties on Thursday, claiming that true democratic norms necessitated consistency and a commitment to human rights.
Speaking before the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, Al-Fayez emphasised that democracy is a shared responsibility that protects citizens' rights, equality, and social justice. However, he cautioned that certain Western countries failed to implement these principles consistently, as reported by Arab News.
Al-Fayez stated that the West has increasingly adopted a policy of double standards when it comes to issues of public freedoms and democratic practices. He emphasized that the two-day conference would address topics such as the protection of democracy, freedom of expression, and the effects of global political and security challenges.
Al-Fayez argued that sustaining democracy relies on both political and security stability, along with rejecting selective approaches to human rights. He also called for a commitment to defending global organizations and institutions that promote justice, rather than using them for political gain.
He stressed the need to implement international resolutions concerning people's rights to freedom and independence, oppose racism and sectarianism, respect the rights of minorities, and foster common cultural and civilizational ties among peoples.
Al-Fayez also highlighted the impact of the Israeli occupation on Palestinians, criticizing what he described as Western hypocrisy in addressing human rights violations.
He pointed out that the Palestinian people have suffered for nearly eight decades under Israeli occupation and, since October 7, 2023, have faced extreme acts of aggression in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. According to him, this aggression has led to the deaths and injuries of tens of thousands, with women and children being the primary victims.
According to Arab news, Al-Fayez also expressed concerns about the role of social media in spreading disinformation, hate speech, and extremism. He warned that although these platforms were originally intended to promote public freedoms, they have instead worsened societal divisions, contributing to political instability in numerous countries.
He noted that social media, which was designed to support freedom of expression, freedom of publication and public freedoms, has unfortunately become a source of problems for democracy. It has fostered hate speech, bigotry, violence, religious and ethnic conflict, and the use of disinformation to manipulate elections and their outcomes.
Additionally, he pointed out the growing dissatisfaction with democratic institutions, driven by economic and technological disparities between the Global North and South, as well as increasing social and economic inequalities.
He further emphasized that these issues have placed democracy and its future under significant strain.