Since 11 September 2001, the world had seen an increase in discrimination against Muslims, with the acts of a few persons professing to be Muslims causing more than 1 billion people to be tarred with the brush of terrorism.

Four principles connected with that right needed to be constantly reaffirmed: that the forcible occupation of the territory of a people whose right to self-determination had been recognized was a clear violation of international law and of the Charter; that the right to self-determination could be exercised freely only if it was unfettered by overt and covert coercion and influence, and could not be exercised freely under conditions of foreign occupation and repression; that it was immutable and could not be extinguished by the passage of time; and that the legitimacy of the struggles of peoples for self-determination could not be compromised by tarnishing it with the tar brush of terrorism.

In such circumstances, it is necessary to pursue the policy of isolating extremist ringleaders, first and foremost those who are on the sanctions lists of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1267 (1999), while preserving for rank and file Taliban not tarred with the brush of war crimes the possibility of returning to peaceful life.

Whether the question involves the treatment of minorities here in the West, or the rights of migrants and asylum seekers, or the presumption of innocence or the right to due process under the law, vigilance must be exercised by all thoughtful citizens to ensure that entire groups in our societies are not tarred with one broad brush and punished for the reprehensible behaviour of a few.