Iran and Gaza: Was Human Rights Always a Lie? | Omar Shakir

Help us expand our Muslim media project here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membership Donate to our charity partner Baitulmaal here: http://btml.us/thinkingmuslim In this powerful conversation, we sit down with Omar Shakir, former Israel & Palestine Director at Human Rights Watch, to explore whether the global rules-based order was ever truly fair - or if it has always been selectively applied. From the blocking of a major HRW report accusing Israel of crimes against humanity, to the broader failures of international law in places like Palestine and beyond, this discussion confronts uncomfortable truths about power, hypocrisy, and the limits of humanitarian institutions. We also examine the post-9/11 world, the role of Western states, funding pressures within NGOs, and whether meaningful reform is even possible. Finally, we reflect on whether a values-driven ethical framework - rooted in justice and consistency - can be rebuilt in an increasingly unstable world. You can find Omar Shakir here here: X: https://x.com/OmarSShakir IG: https://www.instagram.com/omarishakir/ Become a member here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/membership Or give your one-off donation here: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/donate Listen to the audio version of the podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636a Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762 Purchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merch Find us on: X: https://x.com/thinking_muslim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-thinking-muslim/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/ Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslim BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thinkingmuslim.bsky.social Threads: https://www.threads.com/@thinkingmuslimpodcast Find Muhammad Jalal here: X: https://twitter.com/jalalayn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jalalayns/ Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.com Website Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com Disclaimer: The views expressed in this video are those of the individual speaker(s) and do not represent the views of the host, producers, platform, or any affiliated organisation. This content is provided for lawful, informational, and analytical purposes only, and should not be taken as professional advice. Viewer discretion is advised. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction 02:00 - Is International Law Redundant? 04:39 - International Law Only for the West – Post-Second World War Order 12:21 - Why Omar’s Report Was Blocked 22:18 - Hypocritical Rules-Based Order Post-9/11 29:17 - Reinforcement Needs Powerful States 40:00 - About DAWN – Human Rights and Democracy 46:53 - Reconstructing Religious Frameworks in a World Falling Apart