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Political Lies: A Threat to Democracy and Human Rights

90 1
06.01.2025

The writer is Arslan Mehndi Nekokara, Lecturer at GCUF Chiniot Campus. He did an MPhil in Political Science from Punjab University Lahore.

The relationship between political duplicity and human rights is a pressing problem in contemporary governance. While politics has been used as a weapon for deceit, manipulation, and power acquisition, it has also been used for governance and social advancement. The “big lies” that have influenced nations, justified atrocities, and diminished basic human rights are among the most heinous crimes in political history. These lies profoundly impact the worldwide fight for equality, justice, and dignity.

Permit me to talk about some of the most well-known political lies, their effects on human rights, and how they have influenced political systems worldwide. Examples from the past and present are compared to show how enduring and dynamic political deceit is.

Political lies, such as the “lost cause” narrative in post-Civil War America, dehumanize certain groups and lead to violations of their rights. This narrative justified racial segregation and systematic disenfranchisement of African Americans under Jim Crow laws, denying them equality, political representation, and economic opportunities.

Similarly, Nazi Germany’s propaganda used lies about Jewish communities to justify systematic extermination, highlighting the dangers of unchecked political lies.

Today, misinformation campaigns against minorities, like Uyghurs in China, follow a similar pattern, leading to detention camps and human rights abuses.

The above-mentioned case study echoes past systematic persecution, like apartheid in South Africa, where state narratives justified subjugation. The denial of their humanity allowed for the dismantling of their rights to life, freedom, and........

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