Resolution passed at the United Nations against human rights violations in Iran

The United Nations condemned the human rights situation in Iran and passed a resolution against the violation of these rights.

On Wednesday, November 20, the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, while noting the increase in executions in Iran, expressed concern about the violation of the rights of women and religious minorities, especially Christians, and strongly condemned these acts.

In this regard, the United Nations General Assembly issued and adopted a draft resolution condemning the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The resolution also condemned the continued severe restrictions and increased prohibitions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.

The resolution, while emphasizing the situation of religious minorities in Iran, states: "Official and unofficial religious minorities, including Baha'is, Christians, especially converts, Jews, Zoroastrians, Gonabadi Dervishes, Sunnis, and followers of the Yarsan religion, suffer from human rights violations, including increased harassment, arbitrary arrest, detention, and incitement to hatred that leads to violence. Religious minorities in Iran are also deprived of places to perform religious ceremonies and worship and face many restrictions."

In the aforementioned resolution, the UN General Assembly Committee addressed the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran: “The Islamic Republic should cease the surveillance of individuals based on their religious identity and the widespread and systematic use of arbitrary detention. It should also release all persons imprisoned for membership in or activities of groups belonging to religious minorities and ensure that everyone enjoys the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, including the right to change or choose a religion or belief.

This should also be done in accordance with the country’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. According to article 18 of the Covenant, to which Iran is a signatory, everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes freedom to have or adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.

This resolution, while referring to Articles 499 and 500 of the Islamic Penal Code, calls on the authorities of the Islamic Republic to eliminate, in law and practice, any discrimination based on thought, conscience, religion, or belief from the amended Articles 499 and 500 of the Islamic Penal Code.

The draft resolution, which concerns the human rights situation in Iran, was approved with 77 votes in favor, 28 against, and 66 abstentions. As in the past, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran considered the adoption of the draft resolution a "political act" and condemned it.