Anti-Iran resolution draws criticism from NAM, OIC

The Non-aligned Movement (NAM) and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) have condemned a UN anti-Iran resolution on human rights violation.

In separate statements, NAM and OIC representatives expressed strong disapproval of a UN non-binding resolution which accuses Iran of human rights violation.

They called the resolution ‘a politically-motivated move, which undermined human rights activities,’ IRIB reported.

“The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) opposes misusing human rights as a tool against other countries and rejects the resolution introduced by Canada as baseless,” the Syrian ambassador to the UN said.

The Cuban envoy speaking on behalf of the Non-aligned Movement also condemned the resolution, calling it a ‘politically-motivated move’ used as a leverage to increase pressure on Iran.

Members of the United Nations human rights committee adopted a non-binding resolution Friday which criticizes Iran for alleged human rights violations.

The resolution adopted with only 74 votes in favor — with 48 against and 59 abstentions — expresses concern over what it calls “the serious, ongoing and recurring human rights violations” in Iran.

Among those, who voted ‘yes’ to the resolution was Saudi Arabia in a move analysts believe might be linked to recent clashes in Yemen between Shia fighters and the government.

The Yemeni military has launched a major offensive – dubbed ‘Operation Scorched Earth’ – against Houthi Shias in the northern sector of the country.

The government accuses the fighters led by Abdul Malik al-Houthi of seeking to restore the imamate system, which was overthrown in a 1962 coup.

The Houthis argue, however, that they are defending their rights against government marginalization- a policy which they believe has been adopted under pressure from Saudi-backed Wahhabi extremists.

Saudi Arabia has directly entered the military conflict by launching air raids in northern Yemen, alleging that Houthi fighters have killed two Saudi soldiers on the border.

Riyadh insists that it is targeting Houthi positions on ‘Saudi territory’, but the Shia resistance fighters say Yemeni villages are being targeted with deadly phosphorous bombs, which cause massive injuries among the Shia civilian population.

Saudi Arabia’s Badr (Arabsat) along with Egypt’s NileSat satellites in a coordinated move took Iran’s Arabic-language news channel al-Alam off the air.

Al Alam has gained prominence for its coverage of Israel’s 2008 aggression against the people of Gaza and the on-going war in Yemen.

The Iranian government says it fully supports a united and stable Yemen, rejecting claims that it has been interfering in the Arab country’s internal affairs. Tehran has also offered to help Yemen resolve the crisis that has so far killed, injured and displaced a large number of Yemeni Shias.