Muttaqi criticizes West for ‘double standards’ in actions on Gaza and Afghanistan

Addressing an international conference on Palestine in Tehran, Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi on Saturday criticized double standards in the West’s actions regarding a human rights in Gaza and Afghanistan.

Muttaqi said that some countries are sanctioned over human rights issues, but when Israel commits ‘genocide’ in Gaza, it is not even criticized.

“We are living in the era of the greatest contradictions. In a world where some countries are sanctioned under the pretext of violating the smallest human rights or for political reasons by using the issue of human rights, the continued genocide of a nation by a regime that exceeds all limits and standards of humanity in war is not criticized in the least,” Muttaqi said.

He called for influential Muslim countries to play a more effective role in ending Israel’s war in Gaza. He said that the Islamic world should be united on Palestine liberation.

“It is very ridiculous that at a time when my country, Afghanistan, after more than four decades of invasions by foreign countries, war and chaos, is taking steps towards security and stability, it is subjected to sanctions by using the issue of human rights,” Muttaqi said.

The conference was also addressed by Iran’s foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian who criticized the UN Security Council for the lack of effective actions to stop Israel’s attacks in Gaza.

“As a body responsible for ensuring international peace and security, the council, unfortunately has taken no effective actions in stopping the attacks and killings in the occupied territories,” Abdollahian said.

According to the health ministry in Gaza, at least 20,424 people have been killed by Israeli attacks in the besieged enclave since October 7. At least 54,036 people have been injured.