The Australian Baha’i Community has welcomed a United Nations resolution adopted today which expresses “deep concern at serious ongoing and recurring human rights violations” in Iran.
The resolution, passed by one of the biggest percentages in more than two decades of such votes, condemns a range of human rights violations including discrimination against members of the Baha’i Faith.
Australian Baha’i community spokesperson Tessa Scrine said the resolution was a very welcome move by the United Nations.
“We are particularly grateful to the Australian Government for being a co-sponsor of this resolution,” Ms Scrine said.
“Our community is pleased to see that the resolution condemns in such strong terms what is happening to human rights defenders, women and minorities in Iran,” Ms Scrine said.
“In the case of the Baha’i Community of Iran, the resolution expresses special concern over the recent trial and sentencing of seven Baha’i leaders,” Ms Scrine said.
“It points out that the seven were ‘repeatedly denied due process of law’,” she said.
“Those leaders, who were sentenced recently to 10 years jail on spurious charges, are now suffering horrific conditions in Gohardasht prison,” she said.
“They are being forced to endure appalling filth, exposure to disease, lack of facilities for basic personal hygiene and cells so crammed that it is difficult for them to lie down. Their health has worsened and they have no access to medical treatment.”
Ms Scrine said the UN resolution provided an extensive list of recent anti-Baha’i activities including:
- increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify, monitor and arbitrarily detain Baha’is
- preventing Baha’is from attending university
- preventing Baha’is sustaining themselves economically
- confiscation and destruction of the property of Baha’is
- vandalising of Baha’i cemeteries.
Ms Scrine said the resolution follows recent protest from many governments, organisations and individuals at the persecution of Baha’is in Iran.
“For example, in a bipartisan resolution last month Australian MPs condemned the prison sentences received by the seven Baha’i leaders in Iran and called for a halt to the persecution of the Baha’i community and an end to other human rights abuses,” she said.
Last week Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lawrence Cannon, called on Iran to release unconditionally the seven Baha’i community leaders imprisoned by the Iranian regime.
For a full report on the resolution, visit the Baha’i World News Service