UN General Assembly adopts resolution condemning human rights violations in Iran
A resolution condemning "grave and gross violations of human rights" in Iran was passed by the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, November 19.
The 67th resolution condemning human rights violations in Iran was adopted with 79 votes in favor, 32 against, and 64 abstentions.
This resolution was proposed by Canada and supported by a number of countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany, and France.
This resolution expresses concern over "the increase in the execution of death sentences, especially the execution of political prisoners," "the application of the death penalty against minors," "increasing pressure against religious minorities, including members of the Baha'i community," "violations of the rights of political prisoners, including their lack of access to a lawyer," and "the extraction of forced confessions" in the Islamic Republic.
This resolution calls on the government of the Islamic Republic to release all those whose detention is considered arbitrary under international law.
The resolution also called on the Islamic Republic to end harassment and discrimination against dissidents and minorities, arbitrary detentions, and torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of peaceful protesters and political prisoners.
After the resolution was passed, Canada's Department of Foreign Affairs announced that it remains committed to defending human rights and will continue to work with the international community to hold the Islamic Republic accountable for its actions.
Jason Mack, Economic and Social Affairs Advisor at the US Mission to the United Nations, also expressed concern over the continued human rights violations in Iran.
The US representative stated that government institutions, including the judiciary and the Revolutionary Court, continue to commit widespread human rights violations and abuses against the Iranian people and are not held accountable. The resolution highlights some of the egregious abuses reported, including the detention of political prisoners, the use of force against peaceful protests, and torture.
In another part of his remarks, Jason Mack emphasized: The UN Special Rapporteur on Iran, in his March report, pointed to the Islamic Republic government's widespread use of arbitrary detentions as a systematic problem that constitutes a serious violation of international law.
The official from the US Mission to the United Nations further expressed concern about political prisoners' lack of access to medical care and medical leave.
Jason Mack stated: "The United States, like UN special rapporteurs, is concerned about the continued repression of religious minorities. Gonabadi Dervishes, Baha'is, and Christian converts face severe mistreatment, including lengthy prison sentences, for their beliefs."
In October of this year, the UN Secretary-General also called the "repeated and gross violations" of human rights in Iran a "matter of serious concern" in a report.
In the past two months, and especially following the sudden execution of Iranian wrestling champion Navid Afkari, the human rights situation in Iran has received increasing attention from the world and has been repeatedly brought to the attention of the Islamic Republic's authorities.
Source: Radio Farda
