The history of human-rights which is now being hyped as a supra-religion covers thousands of years and draws upon religious, cultural, philosophical and legal developments throughout recorded history. Several ancient documents and later religions and philosophies included a variety of concepts that may be considered to be human rights.

One outstanding contribution to human rights was from a land that was known for its sublime, splendid and rich civilization viz Persia. The Persian emperor Cyrus the Great known for his just and humane nature released a document called the Cyrus Cylinder in 539 B.C., which was a declaration of intentions after his conquest of the Babylonian empire.

The Cyrus Cylinder in 1971 was described as the world’s first charter of human rights, and it was translated into all six official UN languages. A replica of the Cylinder is kept at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City in the second floor hallway, between the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council chambers.

        Passages in the text of the Cylinder have been interpreted as expressing Cyrus’ respect for humanity, and as promoting a form of religious tolerance and freedom; as a result of his generous and humane policies, Cyrus gained the overwhelming support of his subjects. The Cyrus Cylinder is not the only reason that the Cyrus’ legacy is admired. The personality of Cyrus has survived throughout history as more than a great man who founded an empire.

 He become the epitome of the great qualities expected of a ruler in antiquity, and he assumed heroic features as a conqueror who was tolerant and magnanimous as well as brave and daring. His personality as seen by the Greeks influenced them and Alexander the Great, and, as the tradition was transmitted by the Romans, it may be considered to influence our thinking even today.

The size of the Cyrus Cylinder is 23cm long; 11 cm wide with 40+ lines of writing is dated 539 BC. There were three main premises in the decree of the Cyrus Cylinder; the political formulization of racial, linguistic, and religious equality, slaves and all deported people were to be allowed to return home and all destroyed temples were to restored.

        The Cylinder of Cyrus is the first charter of right of nations of the world. It is a baked-clay cylinder in Akkadian language with cuneiform script. The Cylinder was excavated in 1879 by the Assayro-British archaeologist Hormuzd Rassam in the foundations of the Esagila (the Marduk temple of Babylon) and is kept today in the British Museum in London while a replica is kept in the United Nations headquarters in New York city.