A Setback for Human Rights in Iran

From:  "Sam Ghandchi" <ghandchi@yahoo.com>
Date:  Mon Apr 22, 2002  7:48 pm
Subject:  A setback for Human Rights in Iran

Please look at the news at the bottom where the UN monitoring
of human rights in Iran is stopped. Look at the list of the
countries that have helped Islamic Republic on this. The
list includes Pakestan, Libya, Cuba, etc. These are supporters
of Islamism under the banner of so-called "anti-imperialism"
and "independence" which Khamenei just reiterated in his communique
after Chinese premier's visit. Chinese Communists are another
one of those despotic regimes under the banner
of anti-imperialism. One should see the likes of Edward Said who
support this kind of so-called anti-colonialism to justify these
despotic Islamic regimes. I will forward an article that explains
the fallacy of Edward Said well.

Last year the US was voted out of this commission which also helped
the IRI this time and this is at the time when IRI continues torturing
of Ahmad Batebi, Akbar and Manouchehr Mohammadi in the
Evin prison. This is when still those terrorist groups in Iran collect
money to hire hit men to kill Salman Rushdie.

This experience in UN again shows how freedom can be used
to kill freedom, and especailly under the banner of
anti-imperialism. This is what I wrote about "Using Freedom
to Kill Freedom:" before. Democratic people should learn
from these experiences. We cannot afford another Hitler
coming to power using freedom to kill freedom. We cannot
afford another 28-mordad by Sha'boon Bimokh using freedom
to kill freedom. Protecting democracy is as important as
practicing it:

http://www.ghandchi.com/21-Freedom.htm

Best Regards,
- Sam


Iran Unlisted As Rights Offender
Mon Apr 22, 8:47 AM ET

By JONATHAN FOWLER, Associated Press Writer

GENEVA - The top U.N. human rights watchdog on Monday narrowly threw out a resolution criticizing violations in Iran, effectively ending two decades of special scrutiny and dropping the country from the list of worst offenders.

By a vote of 20-19, the U.N. Human Rights Commission rejected a proposal by the European Union (news - web sites), which would have censured Iran for executions and torture, discrimination against minorities and stifling press freedom.

The resolution called for a U.N. expert to continue investigating violations in Iran and report back to the commission next year under a politically charged procedure reserved for countries which commit serious abuses.

The defeat of the resolution — there were 14 abstentions — means that for the first time since the 53-member commission started criticizing Iran in 1983, the country will be spared examination at next year's session.

Iran has prevented U.N. rights investigators from visiting the country since 1996, but that has not prevented them issuing reports highlighting violations.

Activists were dismayed.

"The human rights crisis in Iran is only getting worse and this unfortunate decision will not help it to get better," said Loubna Freih of Human Rights Watch.

For the first time since the commission's creation in 1947, the United States is not a member this year and cannot vote at the annual session.

Iranian representative Pasmaneh Hastaie welcomed the outcome. She told the commission the resolution ignored the real improvement in human rights her country had achieved.

The EU proposal said that while democratic reforms in Iran had improved the human rights situation, Iranian authorities still were doing too little to meet international standards.

It cited public executions by stoning and "other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading punishment, in particular the practice of amputation and flogging," and called on Iran to "expedite judicial reform, to guarantee to dignity of the individual and to ensure the full application of due process of law."

The resolution also condemned discrimination against religious minorities and ethnic groups, and expressed concern about attacks against freedom of expression.

Iran is not a member of the commission, but received strong backing from members including Pakistan, China, Cuba and Libya.

Pakistani Ambassador Munir Akram said the resolution was another example of rich nations ganging up against the poor and preaching about human rights.

This year's commission also has blocked discussion of human rights in Zimbabwe. But the meeting has censured Iraq and Sudan for rights violations.

Censure by the U.N. body brings no penalties but draws international attention to a country's rights record.