We live in a world today where people are assumed guilty until proven innocent because of associations with ethnicity, religion, legal status, political views or even when they exercise their rights to free speech that is against the current ruler or administration. Although this is the norm under authoritarian regimes, it is becoming increasingly commonplace in the US where people are arrested without warrants, deported without due process and publicly dehumanized for articulating their sufferings and demanding just retributions.
The Torah, the Bible, the Qur’an and all major religious scriptures are singularly adamant about human rights, human dignity and human freedom, even in matters whether one believes in God or not. “Thou shall not kill” is prominent in the Ten Commandment from Moses, rearticulated by Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount and made explicit by Prophet Mohammad in his last sermon where he cautioned against violating another person’s honor, life and property even at times of conflicts.
Yet here we are the richest country of the world, where 60% of households do not have a $1000 for rainy days, and the richest person is able to gut federal agencies that assist the poorest people across the globe. Appallingly, this is also where the executive branch flaunts the law established by legislature and demands removal of judges for upholding the law.
Yet prophets and scriptures want us to uphold even higher standards than the legal standard of “innocent until proven guilty.” Calling people by derogatory names, back-biting, hurtful public speech to humiliate someone, doing economic injustice even by mutual consent - are examples of behavior that are morally and ethically undesirable, even if there is no legal prohibition. It is unworthy of a decent human being and has no place in a just society. It is recorded that the household of the Prophet Mohammad was surprised and alarmed when he warmly welcomed a person known to have defamed him, into his house. To explain his conduct, the Prophet said that he didn’t want to be like those who thought badly of other people, and thus mistreats his guest based on the pre-conceived thoughts. The Qur’an says that when you hear a slander against a person, think well of them unless you have verifiable proof, and even then, not to shame them in public.
Currently, it is as if we are in a race to the bottom rather than taking the uphill climb for truth and justice. In a civil society where rule of law should prevail – we all must defend our system through votes, social activism and respectful public discourse. Our elected officials, irrespective of party affiliation, should serve all constituents because under our democracy they were elected to represent the entire district and to uphold the constitution, not just those who voted for them.
