Global Nonviolence Organization: Democracy Key to Justice and Peace

Global Nonviolence Organization: Democracy Key to Justice and Peace
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The Global Nonviolence Organization (Freemuslim Association) issued a statement on Sunday to mark the International Day of Democracy, observed annually on September 15, stressing that democracy is more than a political system. The group described it as an expression of human dignity and the right to shape one’s future, calling it the foundation for justice, freedom, equality, and tolerance.

The statement emphasized that democratic principles—rooted in the Islamic values of consultation and justice—are essential tools in addressing the world’s pressing challenges, particularly in the Arab region, which continues to grapple with conflict and instability.

The organization urged governments, institutions, and civil society to implement these principles through concrete measures. These include strengthening the rule of law, ensuring judicial independence, protecting freedom of expression, releasing prisoners of conscience, and ending restrictions on journalists and thinkers.

It also called for safeguarding independent civil society organizations, guaranteeing constitutional mechanisms for peaceful transfers of power, combating corruption, and promoting tolerance and coexistence through education and media.

According to the statement, democracy offers the best means to counter poverty, ignorance, extremism, and sectarian conflict, ensuring inclusive decision-making and fair distribution of resources. The group concluded by urging collective action to advance democracy and human rights as essential to the region’s future stability.