The international organization Amnesty International today condemned the "double standards" of Western countries that "strongly responded" to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but are still "indifferent" to human rights violations in the Middle East.
Such, as they stated, double standards only encourage further repression of millions of people in that region.
The organization released the annual report today at a press conference at its office in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.
Every year, the report documents and analyzes human rights violations and abuses around the world.
In the report, Amnesty called on the international community to hold accountable those who violate human rights in the Middle East and North Africa and to address the issue of migration without discrimination.
"They immediately opened their borders to receive refugees from Ukraine," Amnesty's deputy head for the Middle East and North Africa, Aya Majzoub, told reporters.
This, as she stated, is the complete opposite of the treatment of refugees and migrants trying to escape from war-torn Syria, chaos in Libya or economic collapse in Lebanon.
Speaking to The Associated Press, she praised the international community for "condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin's attacks on civilians in Ukraine," including systematic torture and killing in occupied regions.
But, he adds, such a strong response has been lacking during Syria's brutal 12-year civil war.
"It fostered a culture of impunity and empowered Putin to commit the crimes he committed in Ukraine," she said.
The report states that Middle Eastern governments have taken advantage of the situation over the past year and stepped up repression of dissidents.
Amnesty also condemns the Iranian authorities for detaining more than 20.000 people who participated in months-long anti-government protests, following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the Morality Police.
The report also condemns Saudi Arabia for publicly "changing its image to attract foreign investment" while continuing to crack down on women's rights activists.
Israel was criticized in the report for raids targeting Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
In Lebanon, Amnesty condemned the authorities for escalating rhetoric against Syrian refugees and the queer community.
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