Official Stresses Iran’s Progressive Stance on Human Rights

A senior Iranian judiciary official said Iran backs international human rights institutions’ stronger role, but at the same time asked these organizations to avoid politically-motivated approach towards other states.

Addressing the 22nd United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva on Friday, Alireza Avayee criticized the politically motivated propaganda campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran’s human rights.

Avayee noted that Tehran’s approach in human rights issues is “progressive”, and added, “Iran welcomes boosting the role of international institutions supportive of human rights. International human rights bodies, including the UN Human Rights Council should avoid taking political positions towards various countries in a discriminative way.”

He underlined that realization of international rules and regulations is the best way to progress forward in human rights.

His remarks came after UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran Ahmed Shaheed released his third report on Iran on October 11. The report was solely based on the claims of 221 people that were questioned from November 2011 to July 2012. Based on those claims Shaheed has accused Iran of human rights violations.

On Wednesday, Secretary of Iran’s Human Rights Council Mohammad Javad Larijani blasted Shaheed for his biased report, and said Shaheed has merely parroted the allegations made by the terrorist groups against Tehran.

“The UN special rapporteur is supported by the US and the European governments and therefore the unprofessional, unfair and completely biased issues he has used in compiling his report are exactly the same remarks uttered by the terrorists, the US and certain European governments,” Larijani said in a meeting with High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay in Geneva.

“This approach will disturb and damage the UN credibility,” he warned.

Iranian officials have said before that Ahmed Shaheed has only parroted the unfounded allegations raised by anti-revolution elements against Iran since he had been tasked with accusing Iran.