The Vision of the International Shield Organization on Freedom and Independence
The study by Dr. Saleh Muhamed Daher, President of the International Shield Organization
Introduction
At the dawn of creation, humanity lived freely, without restrictions or borders. Life was simple, in alignment with nature, free from the complexities imposed by society later on. Freedom was humanity’s initial state, the essence of its existence, and the foundation of its experience. Over time, however, this freedom changed due to social and political developments, raising profound philosophical and legal questions. Today, the issue of human freedom extends beyond individuals, encompassing entire societies and nations, whose freedoms are increasingly restricted or taken away by external powers.
In this context, the International Shield Organization emphasizes that human freedom, whether for individuals, societies, or nations, is a fundamental right that cannot be relinquished. The organization believes that true independence primarily depends on respecting human freedom and dignity as essential pillars for achieving justice and equality.
Freedom: From the Individual to Society and the State
Individual Freedom: Between Nature and Constraints
In its natural state, humanity was completely free, driven by instinct and basic needs. Actions were unhindered by laws or systems. However, as societies evolved, the need for laws and norms emerged to organize relationships and preserve security, often at the cost of absolute freedom. Today, individuals’ freedoms are often taken away in various ways, such as repressive regimes that limit freedom of expression or economic pressures that reduce a person to just another cog in society’s machine.
Freedom of Societies: Preserving Identity
Like individuals, societies also require freedom to thrive. However, social freedom is often subject to both internal and external constraints. Totalitarian systems may suppress cultural and religious diversity within a society, while external agendas may lead to the erosion of a society’s sovereignty over its cultural and social choices.
Freedom of States: Between Sovereignty and Intervention
At the level of nations, freedom means full independence and sovereignty over both internal and external decisions. However, external interventions, whether political, military, or economic, pose a significant threat to this freedom. Neo-colonialism, in its various forms, restricts the freedom of developing countries, turning them into subordinates of major powers.
External Intervention in the Affairs of Nations and Peoples: Taking Away Freedom and Independence
One of the greatest challenges facing human freedom today is external intervention in the internal affairs of countries and peoples, which includes:
- Military Intervention: Wars and armed interventions justified by the need to protect human rights or spread democracy often end up destroying freedoms rather than protecting them.
- Political Intervention: Supporting coups or imposing puppet governments to serve the interests of external powers.
- Economic Colonization: Using international loans with harsh conditions that strip countries of their sovereignty.
The Role of Forces of Evil and Oppression in Denying Freedom and Human Dignity
In the face of human aspirations for freedom and dignity, the forces of evil and oppression stand as the greatest obstacles. These forces seek to entrench their control through various means aimed at subjugating individuals, societies, and nations for their own benefit:
- Manipulated Media: Controlling the media is one of the most dangerous tools used by oppressive regimes to shape public opinion, manipulate information, spread fake news, and create societal divisions that weaken resistance.
- Unjust Economic Systems: Economic colonization through tools such as conditional international loans and control of global markets is another method of subjugation. These systems:
- Impose economic policies that serve the interests of powerful nations at the expense of the independence of others.
- Exploit natural resources, depriving nations of the benefits of their own wealth.
- Keep people impoverished, distracting them from fighting for their rights.
- Political Repression: Oppressive regimes rely on political systems that stifle freedom of expression, arrest dissenters, and use emergency laws to justify human rights violations.
- Cultural and Religious Identity Destruction: Through the suppression of cultural and religious diversity, these forces attempt to erase national identities, replacing them with artificial ones that serve their purposes by:
- Imposing foreign cultures that weaken social cohesion.
- Exploiting religious and sectarian divisions to fragment societies.
- Destroying cultural heritage and national values.
- Educational Manipulation: Education is a gateway to awareness and liberation, so oppressive regimes target it by distorting curricula and diminishing its role in critical thinking and building free minds. Through controlled educational systems:
- Fear and blind obedience are instilled in young minds.
- Subjects that promote critical thinking and human rights are eliminated.
- A generation is shaped to rely on the ruling systems rather than their own judgment.
- Military Force: The use of military force through wars and occupations is another clear form of oppression, where military power is used to:
- Destroy infrastructure and seize resources.
- Suppress populations and kill the spirit of resistance.
- Impose political systems that serve the interests of external forces.
Freedom as the Foundation of Independence and Human Dignity
Freedom is not just an individual demand; it is the foundation upon which the concept of independence and human dignity rests. At all levels:
- At the individual level, Freedom is the ability to make personal decisions without fear or oppression.
- At the societal level, Freedom is about preserving cultural and religious diversity and respecting differences.
- At the state level, Freedom means sovereignty over national decisions without subjugation to external forces.
The International Shield Organization affirms that achieving independence and dignity begins with respecting these fundamental freedoms, stressing the need to create an international environment that protects the rights of individuals and peoples from external intervention and domination.
The Struggle for Awareness: Freedom Starts with Consciousness
Achieving freedom is not just a legal or political demand; it is, at its core, a struggle for awareness. Individuals and societies must understand that freedom is an inherent right that cannot be bargained away. In this regard, the International Shield Organization calls for:
- Promoting a Culture of Freedom: Spreading education and social awareness about human rights.
- Breaking Intellectual Constraints: Overcoming the repression imposed by authoritarian systems or manipulated media.
- Community Empowerment: Supporting initiatives that strengthen the independence of individuals and communities at intellectual, economic, and social levels.
The Vision of the International Shield Organization on Freedom and Independence
The International Shield Organization considers freedom to be the cornerstone of human dignity. It believes that achieving true freedom for individuals, societies, and states requires:
- Eliminating all forms of discrimination and oppression, whether political, economic, or social.
- Enhancing international cooperation to support human rights and respect for state sovereignty.
- Combating modern-day colonization in all its forms, whether political or economic.
- Protecting human dignity as the foundational pillar of any just and independent society.
Conclusion: Freedom Is an Ongoing Struggle
Human freedom, whether at the level of the individual, society, or state, is not just a legal demand but the essence of human dignity. It is an ongoing struggle at all levels, requiring awareness, cooperation, and collective action to safeguard it from any threats aimed at taking it away.