The influence of religion on the creation of the Islamic Declaration of Human Rights

Abstract

The Cairo Declaration of Human Rights (CDHRI), adopted by the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC), presents an alternative to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR),
grounded in Islamic principles and Sharia law. While the UDHR emphasizes universal equality and
freedoms, the CDHRI focuses on the religious foundations of human rights, with an emphasis on
male equality and qualified rights for women, subject to varying interpretations of Islamic law. The
CDHRI also includes provisions for social rights, such as work and healthcare, but non-Muslims may
face discrimination. It stresses the protection of life, family, and equal parental rights, while allowing
for religious freedom, but its principles are deeply intertwined with Islamic theology and the cultural
context of the Muslim world.