UN Denounces Human Rights Violations In Iran

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly approved a resolution Monday denouncing serious human rights violations in Iran ranging from flogging and amputations to torture and “a dramatic increase” in executions.

Iran’s U.N. Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee tried to prevent a vote on the nonbinding resolution Monday but the attempt was soundly defeated.

The 193-member world body then adopted the resolution by a vote of 89-30 with 64 abstentions.

The resolution, sponsored by Canada and co-sponsored by 42 other countries, cites “serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations” in Iran.

It lists more than a dozen human rights concerns including torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, “systematic and serious restrictions on freedom of peaceful assembly,” and “severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.”

The resolution singles out problems facing Arabs, Azeris, Baluchis and Kurds as well as Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Sufis, Sunni Muslims and Zoroastrians.

The General Assembly asked the Iranian government to cooperate with the U.N. and its officials in monitoring human rights compliance in the country.

Iran’s Khazaee strongly criticized “the naming and shaming” of specific countries by the General Assembly, saying that human rights challenges should be addressed in the Geneva-based Human Rights Council which he said is “devoid of politicization, selections, double-standards and confrontation.”

He also criticized human rights violations in Canada and the United States.

Bani Dugal, the Baha’i International Community’s U.N. representative, said approval of the resolution “confirms Iran’s unhappy distinction of being one of the foremost violators of human rights in the world today.”

“It also testifies to the fact it’s much more than just a few minorities or dissidents that are living under a state of siege, facing the daily threat of harassment, arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, along with torture and the threat of violence,” Dugal said.