Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 16
By Khalid Kazimov – Trend:
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has described a recent UN resolution on the state of human rights in Iran as “baseless”.
Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi has said that the resolution passed on Nov. 15 is “unacceptable” and ‘politically motivated’, IRNA news agency reported.
Qasemi added that the bill has not taken into account the realities of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
According to AP, a UN committee on Tuesday urged Iran to cease enforced disappearances and the widespread use of arbitrary detention and has expressed serious concern about severe limitations on freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief.
The General Assembly's human rights committee approved the measure by a vote of 85 in favor, 35 against and 63 countries abstaining. The assembly is virtually certain to adopt the resolution when it's put to the vote next month.
The measure welcomed pledges by Iran's president to eliminate discrimination against women and ethnic minorities, as well as granting greater space for freedom of expression.
But it also expressed concern over the "alarmingly high frequency" of the death penalty and urged Iran to eliminate laws and practices that constitute human rights violations against women and girls.