wfn.org | Baha'i News: UN rejection of Iranian "no-action motion" is a victory for international human rights

["Brad Pokorny" <bradpokorny@comcast.net>]

>Baha'i World News Service
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UN rejection of Iranian "no-action motion" is a victory for international
human rights, says Baha'i International Community

UNITED NATIONS -- 21 November 2008 (BWNS) -- The Baha'i International
Community praised the United Nations General Assembly for today rejecting a
so-called "no-action motion" on human rights in Iran.

Such a motion, if it had passed, would have used procedural rules to set
aside a resolution that is sharply critical of the Islamic Republic of Iran
over its use of torture, the high incidence of executions, the "violent
repression" of women, and "increasing discrimination" against Baha'is,
Christians, Jews, Sufis, and Sunni Muslims, among other minorities.

That resolution subsequently passed the Assembly's Third Committee, by a
vote of 70 to 51 with 60 abstentions, in a second vote today. The resolution
will now be sent for final approval by the full Assembly in mid-December.

"This motion allowed governments an easy way to evade their responsibility
to protect international human rights, and by rejecting it they have cleared
the way for a thorough investigation of human rights abuses in Iran," said
Bani Dugal, the principal representative of the BIC to the United Nations.

"The UN General Assembly therefore deserves praise for rejecting the motion,
which was sponsored by Iran in an obvious effort to evade international
condemnation for its worsening human rights record.

"Our hope is that such no-action motions, which essentially use a procedural
ploy to avoid a legitimate discussion of human rights issues, will now
become a thing of the past. If so, this represents a victory for the rights
of people everywhere," said Ms. Dugal.

A no-action motion is a procedure that prevents member states at the UN from
even debating a particular resolution. It is being increasingly used to
allow countries to avoid having to take a position on politically sensitive
issues, such as human rights, and so to escape scrutiny, Ms. Dugal said.

"Using procedural motions in this way gives unscrupulous countries the
chance to turn a blind eye to the oppressive actions of a member state, all
the while pretending that they care about human rights. The international
community should no longer stand for this. 

"If it had passed, it would have been an affront to those Iranians,
particularly inside their homeland, who have so bravely spoken out against
the abuses of their government. Increasingly, Iranian lawyers and human
rights activists have sought to uphold due process and defend the rights of
their fellow citizens, often at considerable risk," said Ms. Dugal.

Failure of the motion, by a vote of 81 to 71 with 28 abstentions, cleared
the way for the Assembly's Third Committee, which oversees human rights
issues, to consider the actual resolution on Iran's human rights situation.
That vote came minutes later.

The resolution was put forward by Canada and, before the vote, had the
sponsorship of more than 40 countries. It expresses "deep concern at the
ongoing systematic violation of human rights" in Iran, noting especially
recent "confirmed instances" of torture, public executions, and the "violent
repression" of groups such as "women exercising their right of peaceful
assembly."

The resolution also calls on the Islamic Republic of Iran to "address the
substantive concerns" on human rights that were highlighted in a recent
report by the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. 

Issued in October, Mr. Ban's report said "there are a number of serious
impediments to the full protection of human rights" in Iran. It likewise
expressed concerns over torture, executions, the rights of women, and
discrimination against minorities. [To read the full report, go to:
http://www.un.org/Docs/journal/asp/ws.asp?m=a/63/459]

The resolution calls on Iran to "end the harassment, intimidation and
persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders, including by
releasing persons imprisoned arbitrarily or on the basis of their political
views" and to "uphold due process of law rights and to end impunity for
human rights violations."

The resolution takes particular note of attacks on Baha'is, noting
"increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor
Baha'is, preventing members of the Baha'i Faith from attending university
and from sustaining themselves economically, and the arrest and detention of
seven Baha'i leaders without charge or access to legal representation."

Ms. Dugal noted that there are at least 20 Baha'is currently in jail,
including the national Baha'i leadership of seven members who were arrested
last March and May and are being held in Evin prison without charges. More
than 100 more have been arrested and released on bail over the last four
years as part of a stepped-up government effort at persecution.

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