UN committee passes resolution on Iran’s rights violations

Washington, 20 November (WashingtonTV)—A United Nations committee on Friday approved a resolution voicing “deep concern” over the human rights situation in Iran, including arbitrary imprisonment and alleged abuse in the wake of the disputed presidential election.

The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly approved the resolution by a vote of 74 to 48, with 59 abstentions.

It expressed “deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations” in Iran. The list of violations included harassment and intimidation of opposition members, journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders and students, restrictions of freedom of peaceful assembly and association, limitations on freedom of religion and belief, continuing discrimination against women, and the continuing high use of executions.

The reported used of forced confessions and abuse of prisoners, as well as the mass trials of those charged in connection with the post-election unrest, were also mentioned as issues of concern.

According to the Tehran Province general court, five people have been sentenced to death and 81 others to prison, in connection with the protests.

The resolution also points to “increasing discrimination” against persons belonging to religious and ethnic minorities, including Arabs, Kurds and Azaris. In particular, it notes the continuing detention of seven Baha’i leaders, who were arrested in March and May 2008.

The resolution calls on the Iranian government to address the concerns, and “to respect fully its human rights obligations, in law and in practice.”

In particular, it calls for the elimination of flogging and other forms of torture and degrading punishment, the abolition of public executions and executions of juvenile offenders, and an end to discrimination and other human rights violations against women and people belonging to religious and ethnic minorities.

It further urged the Islamic Republic to end the “harassment, intimidation and persecution” of political opponents, human rights defenders, journalists and students.

The Islamic Republic has not responded to requests by UN rights inspectors to visit the country in four years, the resolution noted, and called on Iran to facilitate their visits, so that independent investigations of all allegations of human rights violations can be conducted.

Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Mohammad Khazaee, called the resolution “politically motivated” and dismissed claims about the election as “entirely misleading and incorrect”, reports the Associated Press.

Khazaee also said the measure would create an atmosphere of “confrontation and polarization”, reports the Bloomberg news network.

The resolution must now be approved at a plenary session of the 192-member General Assembly.

Sources: United Nations Third Committee website, Associated Press, Bloomberg news network

© WashingtonTV 2009. All rights reserved.