Declaration of Human Rights in Islam (1981)

On September 19th 1981 the Islamic Council of Europe convened at the UNESCO in Paris. The keynote speech was given by the Secretary General, Ustadh Salem Azzam. The inaugural session was addressed by Mr Amadou Mahtar M’Bow, Director General of UNESCO. At the conference leading scholars, jurists and representatives, delivered speeches and spoke on human rights in Islam. The highlight of the conference was the proclamation of a Universal Islamic Declaration of Human Rights fundamentally based on the Quran and Sunnah. The conference received congratulatory messages from the President and Prime Minister of France. President Francois Mitterrand welcomed the proclamation in particular. The conference additionally led to the establishment of the International Islamic Commission on Human Rights in December 1981. Its Chairman was Mr Ahmed Ben Bella, the first President of Algeria and an important organ of the Islamic Council.