The United Nations General Assembly deserves praise for rejecting the attempt by Iran to prevent a vote on its human rights record, a spokesperson for the Australian Baha’i Community, Tessa Scrine, said today.
The Assembly voted against a motion last week to set aside a resolution that strongly criticises the Islamic Republic of Iran for its human rights abuses including “increasing discrimination” against Baha’is.
The resolution, which subsequently passed the Assembly’s Third Committee, will now go to the full Assembly for final approval in mid-December.
“The Assembly is to be commended for rejecting Iran’s effort to evade international scrutiny of its worsening human rights record,” Ms Scrine said.
The resolution critical of Iran was put forward by Canada and has the sponsorship of 43 countries, including Australia.
Australian Government
“The Australian Baha’i Community is grateful to the Australian Government for its support of this resolution,” Ms Scrine said.
On 29 October 2008, a spokesperson for the Australian Mission to the UN told the Third Committee: “We are increasingly concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, including ongoing discrimination against women and ethnic and religious minorities, such as the Baha’is.”
In June this year, the Australian Government made two public statements expressing its deep concern about the situation of Baha’is in Iran.
Resolution mentions Baha’is
Ms Scrine said the resolution that will go to the full Assembly next month makes a particular mention of the Baha’is in Iran.
“It expresses its deep concern about ‘attacks on Baha’is and their faith in State-sponsored media, increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor Baha’is, preventing members of the Baha’i Faith from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically, and the arrest and detention of seven Baha’i leaders without charge or access to legal representation’, ” she said.
“There are at least 28 Baha’is now imprisoned in Iran due to their faith, including the national Baha’i leadership of seven members who were arrested more than six months ago and have not been charged,” she said.
“At least two of those imprisoned have close relatives in the Australian Baha’i community.
“More than 100 other Baha’is have been arrested and released on bail over the last four years as persecution by the Government of Iran has accelerated.”
Read a full report from the Baha’i World News Service.