Alternative Human Rights Charter Should Draw from Eastern Traditions, Scholar Says
Speaking to IQNA, Hojat-ol-Islam Mohsen Alviri, a professor of history, called for the development of an “Eastern” approach to human rights that draws on both religious and non-religious traditions across Asia, offering an alternative to the current Western-dominated framework established in the mid-20th century.
He noted that the global civilizational landscape is undergoing a shift, and the East is reemerging as a significant cultural and intellectual force. This transformation, he said, opens the door to reexamining the foundations of international human rights.
“An undeniable civilizational shift is taking place in the world,” Alviri said, adding that “the Eastern civilizational sphere is once again asserting itself and narrowing the space for the dominant Western civilization.”
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Alviri noted that the modern human rights framework, formalized in 1948 through the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), was primarily shaped by Western norms, even though some of its roots trace back to Eastern cultures. Now, with the East regaining prominence, he argued that it is possible—and necessary—to revisit the existing model and propose a new, inclusive alternative.
He pointed to ancient legal systems such as the Code of Hammurabi and the Cyrus Cylinder as examples of non-religious yet historically significant contributions to human rights thought. In addition, he cited religious traditions from both Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic faiths—including Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism—as valuable sources of ethical guidance.
Alviri stressed the relevance of Islamic teachings in this endeavor, particularly those of the Ahl al-Bayt (AS). However, he acknowledged the importance of dialogue and inclusivity in shaping any alternative model. “We must also consider that not everyone shares our exact beliefs,” he said. “Still, we agree on the need to reexamine the Western human rights framework, and each group can contribute from its own religious or philosophical standpoint.”
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Quoting a teaching from Imam Ali (AS), the first Shia Imam, Alviri emphasized that human solidarity can be a unifying principle: “People are either your brothers in religion or your equals in creation.” He described this as a foundational idea capable of fostering broad consensus and inclusion.
Alviri said that this initiative is more than a political or ideological response—it is “a fully civilizational undertaking,” and one that he believes could become a significant strength for the Eastern world in its engagement with global systems.
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