Noble words such as human rights, justice, fairness, equality and human dignity are thrown around on a daily basis by commentators, politicians and activists when trying to further their cause. However, the true litmus test of commitment to those values is consistency.

There are some human rights champions who will turn a blind eye, or even justify human rights violations when they or their affiliates are being accused of those violations. Such inconsistencies undermine their credibility and do a disservice for honourable causes.

We must all stand united against blatant violations like this terrible story which is a tragedy that should outrage all humans but it hardly received any media attention. Churchgoers in Egypt leaving the sanctity of their place of worship after midnight celebrating their holiest day of the year being randomly gunned down is heart wrenching.

The Middle East is a region rife with human rights violations and little hope for improvements. The absence of democracy, disrespect of minority rights, sectarian divides, wanton violence and ongoing disregard for international law are untenable. The people of Gaza continue to be under siege, Copts in Egypt are treated as second class citizens, random violence in Iraq killing many civilians, blind sectarian tension in Lebanon, dictatorial tyranny in almost every country, and the rise of extremism are all troubling symptoms that need to be confronted.

Unfortunately, the international community at times, instead of helping, is exacerbating those fault lines. When it rightly demands that Iran holds transparent elections, it pats on the back if not support the many surrounding regimes offering them financial and political assistance. When it justifiably pursues war crime charges against the Sudanese government for horrific crimes in Darfur, it completely ignores war crime investigations with the Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

This is not to absolve the local regimes for their crimes. Violators of human rights and international law need to be held accountable at all times.

Human rights advocates need to maintain consistency in condemning all forms of abuses if they want to command credibility no matter who the abusers are. Some will argue that some violations are not equivalent to others or that situations and circumstances differ. That is irrelevant, however. Betraying universal values such as human rights or justice should always be rejected if we are to promote a civilized and fair society. For the sake of advancing human dignity and justice we must stand united in exposing transgressions and in promoting equality and the rule of law.