Geneva (Stephen Brown), 25 June 2009:
The Islamic custom of welcoming people fleeing persecution underpins modern international refugee law, according to a study sponsored by the United Nations' refugee agency, the UNHCR.
"The international community should value this 14-century-old tradition of generosity and hospitality and recognize its contributions to modern law," said António Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in a foreword to the study by Abu Al-Wafa, dean of the law faculty at Cairo University.
Arab tradition
"Even though many of those values were a part of Arab tradition and culture even before Islam, this fact is not always acknowledged today," wrote Guterres.
The study - "The Right to Asylum between Islamic Shari'ah and International Refugee Law: A Comparative Study" - was published by UNHCR in cooperation with Saudi Arabia's Naif Arab University and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. It was released on 23 June in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia.
"All the principles embodied in modern international refugee law are to be found in the Shari'ah. Protection of refugees, their property and families, non-refoulement [forced return], the civilian character of asylum, voluntary repatriation - all are referred to in the Holy Quran," the Geneva-based refugee agency reported Guterres as saying at the Naif Arab University's commencement exercise.
In the book, author Al-Wafa describes how Islamic law and tradition respect refugees, including non-Muslims; forbids forcing them to change their beliefs; avoids compromising their rights; seeks to reunite families; and guarantees the protection of their lives and property.
The UNHCR said the book illustrates the refugee agency's close association with the member states of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, which has a membership of 57 Muslim states.
Most refugees are Muslims
"Today, the majority of refugees worldwide are Muslims," Guterres wrote. "This fact occurs at a time when the level of extremism - ethnic and religious - is on the rise around the globe, even in the world's most developed societies. Racism, xenophobia and populist fear-mongering manipulate public opinion and confuse refugees with illegal migrants and even terrorists.
"These attitudes have also contributed to misperceptions about Islam, and Muslim refugees have paid a heavy price," the head of the refugee agency stated.
