UN panel voices deep concern at rights violations in Iran

UN panel voices deep concern at rights violations in Iran

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) — A General Assembly committee on Tuesday passed a resolution expressing "deep concern" at the "ongoing systematic violations" of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Iran.

The vote in the assembly's human rights committee was 72 in favor, 50 against with 55 abstentions. It came after an Iranian motion for no action on the resolution was narrowly defeated.

The non-binding resolution expressed "very serious concern" at confirmed instances of "torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including flogging and amputations."
Sponsored mainly by Canada, European countries, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Israel and Palau, it also denounced stoning and "increased discrimination and other human rights violations against persons belonging to religious, ethnic, linguistic and other minorities" in Iran.

The text particularly mentioned attacks on the Baha'i community in the state-sponsored media as well as "increased evidence of efforts by the state to identify and monitor Baha'is and prevention of the Baha'i faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically."

It called on Tehran to respect fully its human rights obligations, eliminate in law and in practice amputations and flogging and other forms of torture, and other acts designated as cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

The resolution also urged Iran to "abolish, in law and in practice, public executions and other executions carried out in the absence of respect for internationally recognized standards."
Ahead of the vote, Iran's UN Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee told the panel that "it was unfortunate that manipulation and abuse of United Nations human rights mechanisms have become a prevalent tradition and exercise of certain states in advancing their political purposes."

He particularly took a swipe at Canada, the main sponsor of the resolution, accusing it of arrogating "to itself a leading global role on human rights advocacy, while certain parts of its own population especially minorities, immigrants, foreigners and indigenous people suffer from human rights violations under its watch."

But Bani Dugal, a spokesman for the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations, hailed the vote.

"We are pleased that the General Assembly did not shy away from its responsibility to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms, as identified in the UN Charter," he said.
The resolution is virtually assured of being endorsed by the entire 192-member General Assembly next month.

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