wfn.org | Baha'i news: UN resolution on Iran sends a powerful message on human rights

[Sally Weeks <sweeks@bwc.org>]

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UN resolution on Iran sends a powerful message on human rights

UNITED NATIONS, 20 November (BWNS) - The approval today of a strongly worde d resolution on human rights in Iran sends a powerful signal to the Iranian  government that the world is gravely concerned about how Iran treats its c itizens, said the Baha'i International Community.

The resolution, approved by a vote of 74 to 48 by the Third Committee of th e UN General Assembly, expressed "deep concern at serious ongoing and recur ring human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran." The list of  violations included oppressive measures taken after the June presidential e lection and "increasing discrimination" against minority groups, including  Baha'is.

"This year's resolution - which is among the most forcefully worded in more  than 25 years of resolutions on Iran - sends a potent message to the gover nment there, stating vigorously that the international community will not t urn a blind eye to human rights violations," said Bani Dugal, the principal  representative of the Baha'i International Community to the United Nations .

"The General Assembly identifies numerous violations, including the use of  torture, the repeated abuse of legal rights, the violent repression of wome n, and the ongoing discrimination against minorities, including Baha'is, wh o are Iran's largest religious minority and are persecuted solely because o f their religious belief," she said.

The resolution also expresses concern over the treatment of "Arabs, Azeris,  Baluchis, Kurds, Christians, Jews, Sufis and Sunni Muslims and their defen ders."

"The resolution also sharply condemns Iran's severe curbs on freedom of exp ression and its use of violence to silence dissent after the presidential e lection in June," said Ms. Dugal. "We can only hope that, given the severit y of the resolution's expression, Iran will at long last heed the internati onal community's recommendations and change its ways."

The resolution, which was put forward by Canada and cosponsored by 42 other  countries, calls on Iran to better cooperate with UN human rights monitors , such as by allowing them to make visits to Iran, and asks the UN secretar y general to report back next year on Iran's progress at fulfilling its hum an rights obligations.

Noting the turmoil that followed the presidential elections, the resolution  devoted eight paragraphs to express "particular concern" about oppressive  measures used by the government to suppress dissent. It noted specifically  the persecution of journalists, human rights defenders, students and "other s exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and association."

It also noted the "use of violence" against "Iranian citizens engaged in th e peaceful exercise of freedom of association, also resulting in numerous d eaths and injuries." And it criticized the holding of "mass trials and deny ing defendants access to adequate legal representation."

It makes extensive mention of the persecution of Baha'is, expressing concer n over "attacks on Baha'is and their faith in State-sponsored media, increa sing evidence of efforts by the State to identify, monitor and arbitrarily  detain Baha'is, preventing members of the Baha'i Faith from attending unive rsity and from sustaining themselves economically."

The resolution also notes the continued detention of seven Baha'i leaders w ho were arrested in March and May 2008, stating they have faced "serious ch arges without adequate or timely access to legal representation."

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