U.N. Moves Toward Sending Human Rights Investigators Into Iran
On February 11, 1979, the pro-Western Iranian constitutional monarchy was overthrown and the nation became the Islamic Republic of Iran, ruled by a non-elected religious Supreme Leader who is addressed as “Ayatollah.”
Iran is ruled by religious fundamentalists who recognize no secular rule of law or traditional concept of natural rights. Although Iran technically holds elections (from a slate of candidates chosen by the Ayatollah), they wield only as much power as the Ayatollah chooses to grant at the time.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is a religious institution with no secular concept of law. Those who convert from Islam to another faith face execution for apostasy. Religious minorities are routinely subject to widespread persecution.
Iranian police tend to respond to peaceful political demonstrations by viciously beating and arresting protesters, who are then subject to further beatings, torture, sexual assault, and denial of medical treatment in prison. Iran formally executed 94 prisoners in 2005, and many more died in prison under mysterious circumstances.
So I ask, what took the UN so long, and notice, no hurry by the UN to punish Iran.
November 22, 2008
Gulfnews.com
United Nations: Western nations on Friday passed a UN resolution condemning human rights violations in Iran.
Iran’s bid to stop action on the resolution failed, with the assembly voting for the resolution 81 votes to 71. The committee then passed the resolution by 70 votes to 51.
The resolution goes to the full assembly next month, but diplomats said the outcome was expected to be the same and the key vote was in the committee.
The resolution urges Iran to end alleged torture and cruel punishment of detainees, executions of juveniles, stonings to death, violent repression of women demonstrators, discrimination against ethnic minorities and members of the Baha’i faith, and restrictions on freedom of religion and belief.
“The importance of this resolution is to put the spotlight on Iran’s very poor human rights record,” British Ambassador John Sawers told reporters.
Bani Dugal, a New York-based Baha’i spokeswoman, said the assembly action had “cleared the way for a thorough investigation of human rights abuses in Iran.”
She said the entire seven-member Baha’i national leadership in Iran was being held in jail in Tehran.
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