It was also concerned about “ongoing severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief”, particularly with regards to political opponents, rights activists, academics, and the press.
The resolution, co-sponsored by 30 other countries, singles out violations against religious minorities, including Christians, Gonabadi Dervishes, Jews, Sufi Muslims, Sunni Muslims, Yarsanis, Zoroastrians and members of the Baha’i faith, and urges that those imprisoned for their faith be released.
The General Assembly’s Human Rights Committee adopted the resolution by a vote of 85-30, with 68 abstentions. It is expected to be approved by the 193-member world body in December. This would be the 65th UN resolution condemning human rights abuses in Iran.
Reactions
Iran’s deputy UN ambassador, Eshagh Al Habib, dismissed the resolution as a “political charade” and said that the rest of the world should not “lecture” Iran on human rights, although he did admit that some “deficiencies” do exist in Iran.
While Saudi Arabian Ambassador Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, said: “The Iranian people continue to suffer under a regime that does not respect human rights, that denies freedoms, that persecutes religious and racial minorities.”
He also called on Iran not to “give shelter to terrorists”.
Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran, said: “Condemning the systematic and gross violations of human rights by the theocratic regime ruling Iran, the UN resolution once again confirmed that the regime blatantly tramples upon the Iranian people’s most fundamental rights in all political, social and economic spheres. The Iranian regime is in no way congruous with the 21st century and must be isolated by the world community.”
#Iran’s ruling theocracy must be isolated by the world community, its dossiers referred to the UN Security Council, and its leaders face justice for crimes against humanity#HumanRightshttps://t.co/xGRy961SWp … pic.twitter.com/sSEZ2Rt9nQ
— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) November 15, 2018
The Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran wrote: “Considering the regime’s other crimes and repressive policies which the resolution fails to enumerate, including systematically assassinating opponents abroad, and depriving the people of Iran of their rights to decide their country’s fate, to enjoy the rule of law, to have access to fair trials, to have free access to information, and to form independent syndicates and unions for workers, students and government employees, it is safe to say that the Iranian regime is the most ruthless, aggressive violator of human rights in the world today.”
They advised referring the Regime’s dossier of crimes to the UN Security Council.
