The Hypocrisy of the D8 Countries in Condemning Israel While Committing Genocide and Human Rights Abuses

 

The Developing Eight (D8) group of countries—Turkey, Egypt, Iran, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Pakistan—have consistently condemned Israel over various issues, particularly its conflicts with Hamas. 

However, these countries have their own dark histories and ongoing practices of human rights abuses and genocides, making their condemnations appear hypocritical. 

Here’s a detailed look at each of these countries and their troubling records:

1. Turkey: A Country That Committed Genocide Yet Denies It Today

Turkey has a well-documented history of genocide, most notably the Armenian Genocide during World War I, where an estimated 1.5 million Armenians were systematically exterminated. Despite overwhelming historical evidence, Turkey continues to deny the genocide to this day. Additionally, Turkey's ongoing conflicts with the Kurdish population have involved significant human rights violations, including reports of forced displacement and extrajudicial killings.

2. Egypt’s Prolonged Human Rights Crisis

Egypt has been in the grip of a prolonged human rights crisis, marked by severe restrictions on freedoms of expression, association, and assembly. The government under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has been accused of widespread abuses, including arbitrary detention, torture, enforced disappearances, and unfair trials. Political dissent is harshly punished, and the crackdown on civil society continues unabated.

3. Iran’s Repression Amounts to Crimes Against Humanity: UN

Iran is notorious for its severe repression of political dissent, religious minorities, and women's rights activists. The United Nations has reported that Iran’s human rights abuses amount to crimes against humanity. These abuses include torture, arbitrary detentions, and executions. The government's crackdown on protests and freedom of expression further exacerbates the dire human rights situation.

4. Bangladesh Genocide and Its Silence

Bangladesh has its own dark chapter of genocide during its war of independence in 1971, where Pakistani forces and local collaborators committed mass atrocities, including rape and murder. While the current government has tried to address these historical crimes, Bangladesh faces criticism for its treatment of Rohingya refugees and allegations of human rights abuses against political opponents and activists.

5. Indonesian Human Rights Abuses

Indonesia has faced numerous accusations of human rights abuses, particularly in regions like Papua and West Papua, where security forces have been implicated in extrajudicial killings, torture, and arbitrary arrests of indigenous Papuans. Additionally, past atrocities such as the anti-communist purges of the 1960s, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 500,000 to one million people, remain unresolved.

6. Malaysia’s Shocking Abuses Against Indigenous Peoples Defending Their Land

Malaysia has been criticized for its treatment of indigenous peoples, especially those defending their land rights against encroachment by palm oil plantations and logging companies. Indigenous communities face forced displacement, loss of livelihoods, and inadequate access to basic services. The government’s failure to protect these communities’ rights has been a major human rights concern.

7. Nigeria’s Human Rights and Genocide Violations

Nigeria has a troubling record of human rights violations and acts that can be categorized as genocide, especially concerning the Boko Haram insurgency. The military’s heavy-handed response to insurgency has led to numerous reports of extrajudicial killings, torture, and mass displacements of civilians. Additionally, ethnic and religious violence in various parts of the country has resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread suffering.

8. Pakistan’s Campaign of Mass Murder, Rape, and Other Atrocities

Pakistan has been implicated in numerous human rights abuses and acts of genocide, particularly during the 1971 war with Bangladesh, where its forces committed mass murder, rape, and other atrocities. More recently, Pakistan has faced accusations of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and severe repression in regions like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Religious minorities and political dissenters also suffer from systemic abuses.

Conclusion

The D8 countries' condemnation of Israel, while they commit grave human rights abuses and genocides, highlights a glaring hypocrisy. These countries need to address their own human rights records and end their abusive practices before pointing fingers at others. 

True justice and accountability must start at home.