Iranian Diplomat Blasts Silence on Human Rights Violations by Rebels in Syria

A senior Iranian diplomat lashed out at certain countries and international organizations for keeping mum on the severe violation of human rights in Syria by the rebel groups fighting Bashar al-Assad’s government.

Iran’s New Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, Mohsen Naziri Asl made the remarks on Wednesday, addressing an emergency meeting on Syria which was held by the UN Human Rights Council.

The Iranian diplomat expressed deep concern over continued conflicts in Syria, and said unfortunately the violence in Syria has been mounting with no control during the past days leaving scores of civilian dead.

He further criticized advocates of holding the emergency meeting on Syria at the UN Human Rights Council for turning a blind eye to the blatant cases of human rights violation by opponent groups in Syria.

Naziri urged the international community to change its approach towards Syria, and stressed that continuation of such biased approach would further encourage Syrian opponent groups to increase their violent armed conflicts.

He said that providing arms to Syria’s opposition groups would be catastrophic for the Syrian people and the entire region as well.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since March 2011 with organized attacks by well-armed gangs and terrorists against Syrian forces and civilians being reported across the country.

The US and its western and regional allies have long sought to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his ruling system. Media reports said that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups have received significantly more and better weapons, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States.

The US daily, Washington Post, reported in May 2012 that the Syrian rebels and terrorist groups battling Assad’s government have received significantly more and better weapons in recent weeks, a crime paid for by the Persian Gulf Arab states and coordinated by the United States.

The newspaper, quoting opposition activists and US and foreign officials, reported that Obama administration officials emphasized the administration has expanded contacts with opposition military forces to provide the Persian Gulf nations with assessments of rebel credibility and command-and-control infrastructure.

Opposition activists who several months ago said the rebels were running out of ammunition said last May that the flow of weapons – most bought on the black market in neighboring countries or from elements of the Syrian military in the past – has significantly increased after a decision by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other Persian Gulf states to provide millions of dollars in funding each month.