U.S. State Department: 800 Human Rights Advocates Imprisoned in Iran
The Persian language Twitter account of the U.S. State Department, while protesting the imprisonment of approximately 800 Iranian “human rights advocates” and the treatment of protesting workers, announced that the department is “amplifying the voices of those in Iran who await an end to the disregard for their inalienable and universal rights.”
The Twitter account announced on Tuesday, referring to International Human Rights Day, that “the Iranian government has held approximately 800 Iranian human rights advocates in detention.”
The Persian language Twitter account of the U.S. State Department, posting images of several political prisoners, wrote that “on this International Human Rights Day, we honor the memory of Iran’s prisoners who have worked to protect the rights and freedoms of their fellow citizens.”
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also on Monday, December 10, coinciding with International Human Rights Day, while accusing the Islamic Republic of Iran of “hostage-taking” of U.S. citizens, called for the release of Robert Levinson and other imprisoned Americans.
حکومت ایران تقریبا ۸۰۰ ایرانی مروج حقوق جهانی بشر را در حبس نگاه داشته است. در این روز جهانی #حقوق_بشر یاد #زندانیان_ایران را که برای حفاظت از حقوق و آزادیهای هموطنانشان تلاش کرده اند، گرامی میداریم. شما امروز به یاد کدام زندانی سیاسی عقیدتی در بند در ایران هستید؟ #HumanRightsDay pic.twitter.com/WcLytIRocR
— USA darFarsi (@USAdarFarsi) December 10, 2018
The Third Committee of the UN General Assembly on Thursday, November 15, approved a Canadian-proposed resolution condemning human rights violations in Iran with 85 votes in favor against 30 votes against and 68 abstentions, and the resolution is expected to be put to a vote in the UN General Assembly within several days.
The resolution, referring to reports about torture of prisoners, arbitrary detention, trials without due process, threats to human rights activists, and restrictions on freedom of expression, states that these cases demonstrate that the Iranian government does not comply with international standards and norms.
The Persian language Twitter account of the U.S. State Department, also referring to the treatment of protesting workers and teachers, quoting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, wrote: “The United States condemns the repression perpetrated against the people of Iran by those who govern them unjustly.”
This Twitter account emphasized: “We are proud to amplify the voices of those in Iran who await an end to the disregard for their inalienable and universal rights and instead want their rights to be respected.”
رنج #کارگران ایرانی: هیچ ضمانتی برای حق و حقوق نیست. https://t.co/lrX52bRRDu
وزیر خارجه #پمپئو: ما با افتخار صدای کسانی را در #ایران گسترش میدهیم که در انتظار توقف بی اعتنایی به حقوق غیر قابل انکار و جهانی شان هستند و درعوض میخواهند که به حقوقشان احترام گذاشته شود. pic.twitter.com/PeZqBNqulP— USA darFarsi (@USAdarFarsi) December 11, 2018
In recent months, labor protests in Iran, particularly in Khuzestan province, have entered a new phase with prolonged strikes and gatherings of sugarcane workers at Haft Tappeh.
These gatherings and also work stoppages by some teachers in various Iranian cities in protest against economic conditions have been met with support from student groups at several Iranian universities including Amirkabir, Kermanshah, and Nowshirvani Babol.
The Haft Tappeh Sugar Company Workers’ Union announced last week that Ismail Bakhshi, a representative of the company’s workers, and Sepidat Qolian, a civil activist, “have been and are severely beaten and under intense psychological and physical pressure.”
The Persian language Twitter account of the U.S. State Department also on Monday, coinciding with December 9, the International Day of “Fighting Corruption,” while mentioning high-ranking officials of the Islamic Republic, wrote that this government “is full of corrupt hypocrites.”
Source: Radio Farda
