Baha'i News: UN strongly condemns Iran's human rights violations; European Parliament joins global o

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Date Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:23:41 +0000

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UN strongly condemns Iran's human rights violations; European Parliament joins 
global outcry


UNITED NATIONS, 21 November 2011, (BWNS) – Using some of its strongest language 
to date, the United Nations General Assembly has roundly condemned Iran for its 
"serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations."

By a vote of 86 to 32, with 59 abstentions, the Assembly's Third Committee 
today approved a six-page resolution that catalogs a wide range of abuses in 
Iran, including "a dramatic increase" in executions, the use of torture, the 
systematic targeting of human rights defenders, pervasive violence against 
women, and continuing discrimination against minorities, including members of 
the Baha'i Faith.

"With its long and detailed list of crimes against ordinary citizens, this 
year's resolution has condemned the behavior of the Iranian authorities in the 
strongest language we have yet seen," said Bani Dugal, principal representative 
of the Baha'i International Community to the UN.

"The result can leave no doubt about what the world community thinks of Iran's 
relentless efforts to violate virtually every human right," she said.

The resolution follows recent reports from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and 
the new Special Rapporteur on human rights for Iran that were also strongly 
critical of the Islamic Republic's human rights abuses. 


Areas of concern

Co-sponsored by 42 countries, the resolution lists some 16 areas of concern, 
ranging from torture and an increased use of the death penalty to the 
"systematic and serious restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly" and 
"severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, 
conscience, religion or belief."

It also mentions, for the first time, concerns over "unlawful interference" 
with individual privacy, citing the state's monitoring of correspondence, 
emails, and voicemail.

Iran's persistent failure at upholding due process of law is also highlighted, 
which includes "the systematic and arbitrary use of prolonged solitary 
confinement, the lack of access of detainees to legal representation of their 
choice, the refusal to consider granting bail to detainees, and the poor 
conditions of prisons, including the serious overcrowding and poor level of 
sanitation, as well as persistent reports of detainees being subjected to 
torture and rape and other forms of sexual violence."


"Escalating attacks on Baha'is"

Continuing violations and discrimination against ethnic and religious 
minorities are another cause for concern, in particular the problems facing 
Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis and Kurds, as well as discrimination against 
Christians, Jews, Sufis, Sunni Muslims and Zoroastrians.

"Escalating attacks on Baha'is and their defenders," are reported, "including 
in State sponsored media, a significant increase in the number of Baha'is 
arrested and detained, including the targeted attack on the Baha'i educational 
institution, the reinstatement of twenty-year sentences against seven Baha'i 
leaders following deeply flawed legal proceedings, and renewed measures to deny 
Baha'is employment in the public and private sectors."

The resolution calls upon Iran to "eliminate discrimination against, and 
exclusion of, women and members of certain groups, including members of the 
Baha'i faith, regarding access to higher education, and to eliminate the 
criminalization of efforts to provide higher education to Baha'i youth denied 
access to Iranian universities."

The country must also cooperate with the UN and its officials in efforts to 
monitor human rights compliance.

"This resolution is a powerful testimony to the degree to which all Iranians – 
not just a few minorities or dissidents – are living under a state of siege, 
where harassment, arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, torture and the threat of 
death have become daily concerns," said Ms. Dugal.

The resolution – which is expected to be confirmed by the full Assembly in 
December – also requests that the UN Secretary General issue a report on human 
rights in Iran again next year.


European resolution

A similarly strong resolution condemning Iran for its human rights violations 
was adopted by the European Parliament last Thursday. 

The resolution likewise cited numerous concerns, ranging from increased 
executions and the widespread use of torture to the systematic oppression of 
human rights defenders, journalists, women and minorities.

The European Parliament also took note of Iran's increased persecution of 
Baha'is, noting they "suffer heavy discrimination, including denial of access 
to education" and that seven Baha'i leaders remain imprisoned and "over 100 
community members remain under arrest."

"We welcome these resolutions and hope that the Iranian government will finally 
heed the international community's call for an end to such practices and a 
return to the rule of law," said Bani Dugal. 








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