Iran Condemns UN’s Biased Human Rights Resolution

In a statement on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi condemned the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran, which was adopted in the 74th session of the UN General Assembly with the support of Canada and certain Western states.

The Iranian spokesman said the document is based upon selective approaches, is partial, confrontational, and meant to serve political objectives.

Mousavi also noted that an obvious reason for illegitimacy of the resolution is that it has been endorsed by the front of Zionism and the reactionary regional regimes, who ignore all kinds of human rights norms, sponsor terrorism and extremism, and violate the basic human rights.

“The political and instrumental use of human rights and the employment of double standards in this area are in contravention of the sustainable promotion of human rights,” the spokesman added.

“Despite this fact, the attitude of supporters of the resolution is adoption of ‘double standards’ on the status of human rights in the countries and referral of the issue to the international circles, particularly to the United Nations. Accordingly, we deplore the fact that the UN mechanisms have been subject to such abuses,” he added.

Mousavi also noted that the destructive approach that supporters of the resolution have adopted against the Islamic Republic of Iran contains multiple errors and flaws, such as the instrumental and political employment of human rights, ignoring the values, the creeds, and the distinguishing cultural features of various societies, ignoring the facts under the influence of an anti-Iran media propaganda, and the disregard for and silence on the widespread violation of the Iranian nation’s human rights as a result of the cruel and illegal sanctions.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is a democratic religious administration that has taken steps to promote and advance human rights at the national, regional and international levels within the framework of the religious and moral commitments and in conformity with its Constitution, normal regulations and the international treaties, and also feels practically obligated to observe them,” the spokesperson underlined.

On December 18, the UN General Assembly adopted draft resolution II, “Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran”, by a vote of 81 in favor, to 30 against, with 70 abstentions.

The Assembly also called on Iran to cease what it called the widespread use of arbitrary arrests and detention and to release persons detained for the exercise of their human rights and fundamental freedoms.