The Australian Baha’i Community has welcomed a resolution adopted this week by the United Nations General Assembly which expresses “deep concern” about “ongoing systematic violations of human rights” in Iran.
“We are happy that the General Assembly, the most globally representative body of the United Nations, has seen fit once again this year to call attention to the dire situation in Iran,” said Natalie Mobini-Kesheh, a spokesperson for the Australian Baha’i community.
“Our hope now is that the Iranian government will heed the opinion of the international community and stop the systematic violation of human rights directed against its own people,” she said.
The resolution noted repression and persecution of groups in Iran ranging from women and women’s rights defenders to the news media and labour groups, as well as various ethnic and religious minorities.
In relation to Baha’is, the resolution noted that there have been “attacks on Baha’is and their faith in State-sponsored media, increasing evidence of efforts by the State to identify and monitor Baha’is and prevention of (Baha’is) from attending university and from sustaining themselves economically.”
It also noted an increase in cases of arbitrary arrest and detention of Baha’is.
Australia was one of 41 countries that co-sponsored the resolution, which was put forward by Canada. It was the 20th such resolution on Iran since 1985.
Visit the Social Action section for further information on the persecution of Baha’is in Iran.