In Partnership with 95 Human Rights Networks and Organizations:

Insan Condemns the U.S. Aggression Against Venezuela and the Abduction of President Maduro and His Wife

The undersigned organizations strongly condemn the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro, who was elected by his people, and his wife. This act is illegal, as international custom upheld by peoples and states grants comprehensive immunity to legitimate heads of state. Moreover, the judicial prosecution and arrest of legitimate presidents require the approval of the constitutional institutions in their own countries.

The undersigned organizations also condemn the military aggression carried out by the administration of the United States of America against civilian and military areas in the city of Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, and three other states. This act constitutes a blatant violation of all international conventions, international law and its norms, international human rights law, and Article Two of the Charter of the United Nations in all its paragraphs, which enshrine respect for sovereignty, the legal equality of states, and the prohibition of the use of force. It also violates United Nations General Assembly Resolution No. 3314 of 1974, which considers an act of aggression to be a state’s assault on the sovereignty of another state and the use of armed force to subjugate it and violate its political independence—a crime of aggression. Furthermore, this act threatens international peace and security, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean region.

We also note that Paragraph 8, Section 11 (Article I) of the United States Constitution assigns the authority to declare war to the U.S. Congress, which did not occur in the aggression launched against Venezuela at dawn on January 3 of this year. Accordingly, the U.S. President exercised a power not vested in him—thus violating the U.S. Constitution by ordering the aggression against Venezuela—an action that warrants accountability before the U.S. Congress.

What has occurred violates not only the dignity of the Venezuelan people, but the dignity of all peoples of the world. The pretext used to justify this aggression reflects fascist, Nazi-like arrogance and exposes the failure of U.S. policy to resolve its internal political and economic problems.

Based on the conviction of the undersigned that the objective of this attack and the abduction of President Maduro and his wife is nothing more than the seizure of Venezuela’s strategic resources—especially oil and minerals—we declare the following:

First: We denounce the level of arrogance reached by the current U.S. administration, which poses a grave challenge to the entire world—states, peoples, and international institutions, including the United Nations and the Security Council.

Second: We strongly condemn the abduction of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife and demand their immediate release, their return to their country, and the continuation of their duties.

Third: We express our full solidarity with the Venezuelan people and their legitimate leadership, as well as with all the peoples of Latin America striving to free themselves from the Monroe Doctrine, domination, and military intervention in their internal affairs aimed at controlling their wealth.

Fourth: We appeal to the peoples of the world and all free individuals to condemn this aggression and to work to ensure that the perpetrators of this crime of aggression do not escape accountability before competent international courts.

Signatories:

Maghreb Coordination of Human Rights Organizations (21 organizations in Morocco, Mauritania, Algeria, and Tunisia)

International Movement for Human and Peoples’ Rights (21 institutions from 17 countries)

Tunisian General Labour Union

Sudanese Women’s Union

Jordanian Federation of Independent Trade Unions

Global Coalition for Solidarity with and Defense of Palestinian Prisoners

Egyptian Coalition for Child Rights (around 100 associations)

Moroccan Coalition of Human Rights Bodies (23 organizations)

Coalition of Kurdistan Civil Society Forces in Syria

Cultural Gathering for Democracy / Iraq

Association of Persons with Disabilities in Iraq

Mauritanian Teachers’ Alliance

Iraqi Alliance of Human Rights Organizations (56 organizations)

Arab Coalition Against the Death Penalty

Yemeni Alliance for Human Rights (UMM)

Transparency Morocco

Jordanian Women’s Union Association

Civil Solidarity Association / Tunisia

Tunisian Association of Democratic Women

Association of Philosophical Culture / Jordan

Al-Rafidain Association for Human Rights in Iraq

Working Women’s Association / Jordan

Arab Association of Political Science

Al-Kawthar Association for the Care of Needy Families / Iraq

Lebanese Association of Democratic Lawyers

Palestinian Working Women’s Society for Development

Palestinian Women’s Development Center Association

Moroccan Association for Human Rights

Moroccan Association of Progressive Women

Mauritanian Association for Human Rights

José Martí Association for Arab–Latin American Solidarity

Rachel Corrie Association for Solidarity Among Peoples

Women’s Visions Association / Jordan

Women’s Network for Supporting Women / Jordan

Shumoua Association for Equality / Morocco

Iraqi Human Rights Monitoring Association

Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (ARIJ)

Nechaz Association / Tunisia

Center for Trade Union and Workers’ Services / Egypt

Tunisian League for Human Rights

Kurdistan Women’s League

Association of Women Heads of Households / Mauritania

Iraqi Human Rights Trainers League

Lotus Feminist Cultural League / Iraq

Freedom Pioneers for Training on Integrity and Human Rights / Jordan

Jordanian Network for Human and Peoples’ Rights

Moroccan Democratic Network for Solidarity with Peoples

Moroccan Network for the Protection of Public Funds

Syrian National Network for Civil Peace and Community Safety

Syrian Federation of Human Rights Organizations and Bodies

Committees for the Defense of Human Rights and Democracy in Syria

Arab Committee for Human Rights

Vigilance Committee for Democracy in Tunisia

Human Rights Committee in Syria (MAF)

Lebanese Committee for Women’s Rights

Kuwaiti Democratic Women’s Bloc – Kinda

International Council for Supporting Fair Trials and Human Rights (ICSFT)

World Council for Rights and Freedoms

International Observatory for Documenting Human Rights Violations / Argentina

Arab Observatory for Human Rights and Citizenship / Lebanon

French Human Rights Observatory

National Observatory for the Defense of the Civil State / Tunisia

Center for Human Rights and Democracy Media – SHAMS / Palestine

Alternative Center for Studies and Research / Jordan

Khiam Center for the Rehabilitation of Torture Victims / Lebanon

Palestinian Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession (MUSAWA)

Moroccan Center for Peace and Democracy

Learn and Teach Center for Research and Studies / Jordan

Tunis Center for Press Freedom

Human Rights Memory and Archives Center / Morocco

Damascus Center for Theoretical Studies and Civil Rights

Amman Center for Human Rights Studies

Scandinavian Institute for Human Rights / Haitham Manna Foundation

International Institute for Peace, Justice, and Human Rights

Hauran Forum for Citizenship

National Civil Forum in Sudan (54 associations)

Moroccan Forum for Truth and Equity

Libyan Academic Organization

Tunisian Organization Against Torture

Arab Organization for Human Rights in Libya

Arab Organization for Human Rights in Syria

Insan Organization for Rights and Freedoms / Yemen

Beit Al-Hurriya Organization for the Defense of Human Rights and Combating Slavery and Its Legacy / Mauritania

Tammuz Organization for Social Development / Iraq

Human Rights Organization in Syria (FILE)

Diyala Organization for Human Rights / Iraq

Sahara Youth Organization for Human Rights / Libya

Humanitarian Aid Organization / Iraq

Yemen Organization for the Defense of Rights and Democratic Freedoms / Yemen

Egyptian Foundation for the Advancement of Childhood Conditions

Mada Foundation for Human Rights / Iraq

Yaman Foundation for Humanitarian Affairs / Iraq

International Commission for Supporting Palestinian People’s Rights – HASHD

Sahel Authority for the Defense of Human Rights and Support for Education and Social Peace / Mauritania

Moroccan Authority for Human Rights