US State Department: 800 human rights activists are imprisoned in Iran
The US State Department's Persian Twitter account, while protesting the imprisonment of around 800 Iranian "human rights activists" and the treatment of protesting workers, announced that the department was "amplifying the voices of those in Iran" who "are waiting for an end to the disregard for their undeniable and universal rights."
The Twitter account announced on Tuesday, referring to International Human Rights Day, that "the Iranian government has detained nearly 800 Iranian global human rights activists."
The US State Department's Persian Twitter account, posting pictures of a number of political prisoners, wrote, "On this International Human Rights Day, we honor the Iranian prisoners who have worked to protect the rights and freedoms of their fellow citizens."
On Monday, December 9, coinciding with International Human Rights Day, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of "taking hostages" of US citizens and called for the release of Robert Levinson and other imprisoned Americans.
The Iranian government has imprisoned nearly 800 Iranian human rights activists. On this #HumanRightsDay, we remember the #IranianPrisoners who have worked to protect the rights and freedoms of their fellow citizens. Which political prisoner of conscience are you remembering today in Iran? #HumanRightsDay pic.twitter.com/WcLytIRocR
— USA darFarsi (@USAdarFarsi) December 10, 2018
On Thursday, November 14, the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly approved a resolution proposed by Canada condemning human rights violations in Iran with 85 votes in favor, 30 against, and 68 abstentions. The resolution is scheduled to be put to a vote in the United Nations General Assembly in the next few days.
The resolution, citing reports of torture of prisoners, arbitrary detentions, trials without due process, threats against human rights activists, and restrictions on freedom of expression, says that these cases show that the Iranian government does not comply with international norms and standards.
The US State Department's Persian Twitter account also referred to the clashes with protesting workers and teachers, quoting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who wrote: "The United States condemns the repression of the Iranian people by those who rule unjustly."
The Twitter account emphasized, "We proudly amplify the voices of those in Iran who are waiting for an end to the disregard for their undeniable and universal rights and instead demand that their rights be respected."
The suffering of #Iranianworkers : There is no guarantee for rights and entitlements. https://t.co/lrX52bRRDu
Secretary of State #Pompeo : We are proud to amplify the voices of those in #Iran who are waiting for an end to the disregard for their inalienable and universal rights and who are instead demanding that their rights be respected. pic.twitter.com/PeZqBNqulP— USA darFarsi (@USAdarFarsi) December 11, 2018
In recent months, labor protests in Iran, especially in Khuzestan Province, have entered a new era with the long-term strike and rally of Haft Tappeh sugarcane workers.
These gatherings, as well as the work stoppage of a number of teachers in various cities of Iran in protest of their living conditions, have also been met with support from a group of students from some Iranian universities, including Amirkabir, Kermanshah, and Noshirvani in Babol.
The Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company workers' union announced last week that Esmaeil Bakhshi, a representative of the company's workers, and Sepideh Qolyan, a civil activist, "have been and are being severely beaten and under severe mental and physical pressure."
On Monday, coinciding with December 9th, International Anti-Corruption Day, the US State Department's Persian Twitter account wrote, naming senior officials of the Islamic Republic, that this government is "full of corrupt, hypocritical people."
Source: Radio Farda
