Under the title “In Middle East, Repression is Present, Trust is Absent,” the human rights activist and Nobel Peace laureate Tawakkol Karman delivered a trust-connected speech in the British House of Lords on July 18, 2017. Here is the full text:

In Middle East, repression is present, trust is absent

At the outset, I would like to express my happiness to be at this important forum, which is bringing together distinguished political, media and academic figures for discussion on a very important issue concerning levels of confidence in politics and the media.

 

Dear friends, 

Once I learned that the main theme of this conference is about “Trust in era of alternative facts”, many thoughts flashed in my mind, but the most provocative is whether there is still trust that could give us enough reassurance about our lives and future.

Well, by taking a quick look at the situation in the Middle East form which I’m coming to you, one can say that everything has been thrown into disorder so that instability has been the prevailing situation; citizens are without rights, basic freedoms have been wholly violated, decent life has been absent, conflicts and crisis almost rage in most societies there. In fact, the whole region is like a cat on a hot tin roof.

The governments have failed to do their job; the regimes there have achieved nothing but failure so far, and their policies and orientations are governed by corruption. For long time, institutions of these regime are no longer in the service of citizens. They have turned, however, into entities practicing repression, collecting levies and seizing control of public funds in favour of despotic rulers and their own families. 

In this big scandal, there is no exception but difference in proportion. So, when looking at people’s faces (conditions) in Middle East, we see citizens deprived of basic rights and suffering from tough restriction on their freedoms, and their dignity is violated.

The failure of governments and regimes in the Middle East has contributed to destabilizing social peace and creating and fueling sectarian, regional and tribal conflicts. There is a near-constant state of frustration among citizens as a result of the loss of confidence in the ruling regimes at all levels. 

This overwhelming sense of disappointment is attributed to rational reasons, and I believe that solutions to this growing crisis of confidence will not be possible unless its underlying causes are fully addressed. We must aspire to have elected leaders, competent institutions that are based on principles of good governance, and modern systems and legislation. This is the safe way to avoid failure, violence, corruption and terrorism.

The revolutions of the Arab Spring came to bring about radical changes in the prevailing political, social, economic and media conditions of the region, which were characterized by backwardness, weakness and corruption. This led to the emergence of new political parties and initiatives and dozens of radio and television stations and newspapers so that everyone was able to go into issues related to politics and human rights, and governments were faced with mounting criticism. 

The region was on the verge of entering a new era, and Arab citizen was more inclined towards the new institutions, whether political or media. This inclination was further reinforced by communication and media outlets, which provided a wide space for free discussions of all ideas and opinions. 

But the rise of counter-revolutions with the support of regional and international powers resulted in crushing all these gains after they were able to change the course of the Arab Spring revolutions. As a result, the sense of frustration has reappeared, and there has been a significant decline in levels of confidence in the existing authorities and the media, which have once again come to mislead people. 

 

Dear friends, 

Despots and corrupt rulers continue their hobby of plundering wealth and violating public rights and liberties under the eyes of the world. Despite these atrocities, no one is thinking of curbing the tyrants and those committing massacres against their peoples. Surprisingly, these autocratic governments are met with tolerance even by the United Nations, the UN Security Council and the European Union. 

Regardless of whether this position is complicity, failure, or the two together, peoples of the concerned countries in the end lose confidence in the United Nations, the UN Security Council and all the UN-affiliated judicial institutions, such as the International Court and the International Criminal Court. 

The restoration of confidence in these international institutions is dependent on ensuring their effectiveness and overcoming all shortcomings and causes. In this context, the United Nation’s decision-making mechanisms must be reviewed because they are based on consensus between great powers rather than on humanitarian principles and standards, and this makes the United Nations lose the ability to maintain world peace, protect human rights and fight against corruption.

As a result of this manifest imbalance, Bashar al-Assad's crimes have not been put to an end. But even worse, a single UN resolution has not even passed to condemn such crimes. No decisive action has been taken against regimes and militias, which unlawfully kill their opponents, or for the recovery of looted funds in accordance with the anti-corruption convention; no serious action has been taken in any direction.

It can be said that we have found ourselves in front of a long series of humanitarian charters, treaties and agreements, which humanity has accomplished, but mostly they are like a cheque with no balance. Despite the fact that they are binding, some governments are not committed to their implementation. Even when some trample them underfoot- this has happened many times-, the perpetrators don’t suffer any consequences.

The lack of confidence in the UN organization and its mechanisms and institutions has led to a crisis of confidence in the usefulness of international covenants and conventions. Many have begun to wonder why we have to be tired of talking about human covenants and conventions.

Why shall we aspire to achieve more international agreements and covenants whereas the imbalance lies in the absence of implementation and non-compliance and not in scarcity of international treaties, agreements and conventions?

Seven Security Council resolutions have been adopted on the transitional process in Yemen. Nevertheless, the transitional process was fully torpedoed due to the coup led by Houthis and Saleh; the putschists and obstructionists are free to walk the streets with impunity. What has been done by the International Criminal Court to prosecute war criminals and perpetrators of massacres against humanity? Actually nothing. Why? Because the court’s mechanisms are fundamentally flawed, making the court unable to neither take nor implement any resolution adopted to prosecute someone else.

How to restore people’s trust in the UN institutions? What is the way to overcome this crisis of confidence?

Of course, there is a need for profound reforms and treatment strategies to make the performance of the UN and its institutions be based on justice, equity and human rights, as stipulated in the Charter and treaties, but not according to polarity or the balance of power. Victims are usually excluded from different types of polarity, and of powers representing them. Despite the urgent need for reforms to protect the environment and world peace, fight against poverty and despotism and respect human rights, such reforms will come much too late. 

The Western governments, which introduce themselves as protectors of democratic rights in the world, have failed to do so, as they have developed close interest-based relationships with autocrats and corrupts, neglecting all of their claims. We can say with great sadness and anger that the relations between the western governments and their counterparts in our region are not based on the position of the latter on corruption and human rights violations. 

We are being oppressed by these regimes who practice corruption and seize public money, counting on Western governments and states. Therefore, there is a great crisis of confidence among our region’s people in these Western governments. Clearly, this crisis is based on strong justifications. 

 

Dear friends, 

Despite the West's reverence for principles of good governance, human rights and the freedom and independence of the press, the situation in the West is not that perfect. There is close cooperation with human rights violators in the world, as well as willingness to deal with authoritarian governments for economic benefits; no one could say otherwise. 

I think this strange behavior has led to a negative impact on the freedom and independence of the press. With Western military superiority and the tendency to dominate and appease authoritarian allies, a large part of press and TV work has been used for black propaganda, and this has led to media and press outlets losing their credibility gained in the past. News channels and newspapers no longer enjoy the same confidence they had before.

 

Dear friends, 

During 2011, millions in the Arab world took to the streets and squares to demand the overthrow of repressive regimes. The scene was full of unprecedented demonstrations. Due to increasingly high level of ambitions, the pillars of those regimes were shaking all over and collapsing. The world kept expressing concerns, while state media outlets and the bulk of private media turned a blind eye to what was happening.

The Arab citizen realized from early on - and through daily experience- that television and radio stations and newspapers could tell him anything except the truth. By the way, there was a popular saying in the Arab world that if you want to know what is going on in your country, listen to Radio London.

The lack of confidence in the news media among the Arab peoples is inherent in consciousness, and not something new. This is because these media outlets should do their work only according to the desire of authorities, even if it leads to the falsification and fabrication of news and facts without any sense of responsibility.

The great British scientist Isaac Newton saw that the people’s trust is better than their love. Trust brings love, respect, cooperation, tolerance and hard work. Hence, it is understandable why the Western world has accomplished all these achievements in terms of human rights, democracy, freedom of the press, development and military and technological superiority.

Today, we have to admit that there is a global crisis of confidence in almost everything; in states, entities, groups and political, economic, religious and media institutions. This increases the risks to peace and stability in the world, as the lack of confidence among any society increases the sense of isolation, frustration and violence, and creates an environment conducive to rumors. In the absence of trust, it becomes easy to pass and believe rumors. 

Accepting rumors coupled with confidence in unreliable leaders and institutions replaces the confidence in the trustworthy ones. Many things have been booby-trapped, and the global crisis of confidence is fully justified. So, two points should be worked on: making genuine institutions and leaders trustworthy, and bringing about changes and reforms to those institutions, including their performance, mechanisms and structures.

Among the negative effects of the low level of credibility of the media in general is that some resort to platforms run by extremist parties with unclear goals and unknown funding source, just because they speak loudly about some of issues ignored by the proper media due to restrictions on press freedom here or there.

Therefore, nothing is better than support for press freedom if we are to break the cycle of the mistrust in the media. Let’s encourage the transparent transmission of news. Governments have to believe in the public's right to knowledge. Big events take place in some countries, but nobody knows what has happened. What remains of the media if they are unable to tell us what is going on?

 

Dear friends, 

If the main function of the media is to inform people of what is happening - by providing the necessary answers that enable the public to know the details of an event-, there is also another not-less important function represented by shedding light on ideas rippling through societies. The media must ask questions related to freedom, integrity, anti-racism and respect for the law.

No fear of media! Arab governments and regimes have to stop the harassment of the serious media that have been able to establish a good relationship with the public. Any restrictions on freedom of information and expression will be in the interest of extremism and tyranny, and violate the most basic human rights.

The ban has extended to reach activities on social media, and this is hard to understand or accept. Everyone in the world is able to have own platforms to express opinions, ideas, dreams and talents. It is important to emphasize the need not to impose restrictions on these windows, no matter the pretexts. 

From a professional point of view, it is a real problem when social media outlets publish likely unreliable news. Let’s be wary of such news! But we should keep in mind that hundreds of very important snapshots, footage and videos have been taken by ordinary people who happened to be at the scene, which has made such people permanent sources for major news agencies, televisions and newspapers around the world. 

With such a large number of media outlets and increasing users of social media, with the development of the concept of citizen journalism, and under the increasingly intensive competition, we no longer are able to tolerate the lack of or lower levels of confidence and credibility.

Today, we are living in an era of great information flow and increasingly volatile major events, so we have no choice but to rely on credible institutions. This makes us be less susceptible to deception and deceit, but closer to the truth we all need.

This trend, however, should not lead us, as I said, to diminish the importance of social media, which allow every person in the world the opportunity to express themselves, and this helps in forming a cross-border and transnational public opinion on humanitarian and cultural foundations.

In parallel to the authoritarianism eagerly marketed by repressive governments and regimes as the only way to maintain security, there is- as I imagine- an ever-widening trend to defend freedom and human dignity.

It would be my pleasure be part of this trend, so I’m not tired of saying: freedom is the right of all, there is no place for tyranny and slavery, or to silence the others. Oppressors and terrorists are two sides of one coin. Is there anyone in this world, who is not convinced of this? I have no idea, but the world would be fine if both tyranny and terrorism were confronted as pure evil and as threat to human beings, their existence, life and future.