The Australian Baha’i Community has welcomed today’s United Nations resolution that criticised “increasing discrimination against Baha’is” in Iran.
Australia was one of more than 40 countries that co-sponsored the General Assembly resolution which expressed “deep concern at serious human rights violations in Iran.”
“We are pleased that the world’s most representative body has once again spoken out about the shameful and illegal abuses of human rights being carried out in Iran,” said an Australian Baha’i spokesperson, Tessa Scrine.
“We hope that the Iranian government will listen to the international community and stop systematically violating the human rights of its own people,” Ms Scrine said.
The resolution criticised “increasing discrimination” by Iran against Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Sufis, Sunni Muslims, and other minorities, its use of torture, the high incidence of executions, and the “violent repression” of women.
The resolution takes particular note of attacks on Baha’is, including:
- the arrest and detention of seven Baha’i leaders without charge or access to legal representation
- increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor Baha’is
- preventing Baha’is from attending university
- stopping Baha’is from sustaining themselves economically.
Australian Government
On 29 October 2008, a spokesperson for the Australian Mission to the UN said: “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.
Ms Scrine said there are at least 20 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.
“At least two of those imprisoned have close relatives in the Australian Baha’i community,” Ms Scrine said.
Read a full report from the Baha’i World News Service.