Malaysian Muslim Activists Condemn US Sanctions that Block Aid to Flood-Hit Iran
In a statement, Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid and Datuk Wira Abdul Ghani Samsudin added that the world cannot let Iran face disaster without help.
Following is the full text of the statement:
The massive flood that struck Iran since March 2019 has been devastating in some southern Iran provinces, especially Khuzestan. It has devastated large-scale villages and infrastructures.
So far 70 people have been killed, 400,000 people are affected, 200 bridges and 400 kilometers of roads have been destroyed completely. More than 200 villages have been hit hard.
We urge the Islamic nations to immediately send humanitarian aid to the hundreds of thousands of Iranian flood victims.
We condemn the sanctions imposed by the United States on Iran which have prevented the access of aid to Iran.
Restrictions on Iran by the United States are human rights violations and are not in line with international agreements that do not allow a country to take unilateral action on another country in terms of humanitarian aid.
Iran is banned from getting replacements for repairs of vehicles and helicopters that need to send aid to affected areas.
As a result, Iran is forced to operate in limited circumstances as it does not have access to the necessary spare parts to enable relief operations to run smoothly without restrictions by other countries.
The world cannot let Iran face disaster without help. As Iran has not failed in helping other countries affected by natural disasters. aid to Iran should be channeled as a sign of human solidarity.
The destruction caused by the flood is the largest destruction experienced by Iran. It will worth hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild the destroyed infrastructure.
The attitude of Islamic countries being silent and does not want to help the disaster victims in Iran just simply because Iran is the target of western imperialist powers, is an improper and hypocritical attitude.
If natural disasters in other countries are helped, by why Iran is isolated.?
It is a political discrimination that causes ordinary people of Iran to become victims when international humanitarian aid is blocked to reach Iran.
The OIC does not have to be selective when it comes to the needs of the Iranian people who are victims of natural disasters.
We call on Malaysia to show its initiative to send humanitarian aid as a sign of the Islamic brotherhood and the unity of the ummah.
Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
President of MAPIM
Datuk Wira Abdul Ghani Samsudin
Chairman of SHURA
