UN Third Committee condemns human rights violations in Iran
On Thursday, November 13, the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly issued a resolution condemning "human rights violations in Iran" and expressing deep concern, including over arbitrary arrests, prison conditions, discrimination against women, and the continued organized persecution of religious minorities in the country.
The resolution, drafted by Canada, was adopted by 84 votes in favor to 30 against, with 66 abstentions.
The United States, Britain, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Ukraine, Finland, France, Denmark and Germany were among the Western countries that voted in favor of the resolution.
Among the Arab countries and the Middle East, the names of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain are also among the supporters of the resolution.
The six-page resolution expresses concern over “severe restrictions on freedom of thought, religion and belief” as well as “increasing pressure” against religious minorities, including members of the Baha’i community, Gonabadi Dervishes and Sufis.
The resolution was prepared based on two reports by Javed Rahman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, who said that Baha'is in Iran, as followers of a religion that the government does not recognize, have been targeted by the most severe forms of repression.
The resolution calls on Iran to end all forms of discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities in the country. The resolution also calls for the release of imprisoned women's rights activists, the repeal of discriminatory laws against women, the improvement of prison conditions, the provision of medical treatment to prisoners, and the release of all citizens imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
The resolution also commends some of Iran's actions, such as hosting one million Afghan refugees and providing them with access to the education system and healthcare services.
The significant decrease in executions in Iran, which occurred with changes to drug laws, is another issue mentioned in the resolution.
Iran's neighbors generally voted against the resolution, including Armenia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkmenistan, and Pakistan. Other countries opposing the resolution include China, Cuba, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Serbia, Oman, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, India, Russia, the Philippines, and Syria.
Source: Radio Farda
