Iran Criticizes US State Department’s Annual Human Trafficking Report
Bahram Qassemi, spokesman for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized the US State Department’s annual human trafficking report on Wednesday, July 28th, stating that America lacks the necessary legitimacy and authority to issue such reports about other countries.
The US State Department’s seventeenth annual human trafficking report was unveiled yesterday in a ceremony in Washington attended by Rex Tillerson, the country’s Secretary of State.
The report emphasized that Iran has made “no substantial effort” to address human trafficking. The report cited examples and instances of human trafficking in Iran, including sexual exploitation of girls in the cities of Tehran, Tabriz, and Astara.
The seventeenth annual US State Department human trafficking report also stated: Iranian girls were subject to human trafficking for sexual exploitation in brothels in Iraqi Kurdistan, particularly in the city of Sulaymaniyah.
A “One-Sided and Biased” Report
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman emphasized on Wednesday: “Such reports are one-sided, biased, and based on dual and political standards, prepared solely to tarnish the reputation of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Bahram Qassemi further characterized America’s “unilateral, interventionist, and aggressive policies” and some of its allies as “the source of human trafficking.”
He added: “The Islamic Republic of Iran, under the banner of Islamic principles and teachings, is endowed with one of the most progressive constitutional and enacted laws in the field of protecting human dignity and honor.”
In the US State Department’s annual report, the issue of human trafficking in various countries around the world was examined. The foundation of this report is the “Trafficking Victims Protection Act,” which was passed in America 17 years ago.
Based on this law, countries are divided into three categories. “Tier One” consists of countries that fully comply with the law’s requirements. “Tier Two” comprises countries that do not meet all requirements but whose governments are making efforts to improve conditions. “Tier Three” includes countries whose conduct contradicts the minimum standards of this law for combating human trafficking and who take no steps to improve their situation. Iran has been classified in this category.
Source: Radio Farda
