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Statement Ambassador Ali Bahreini before the Human Rights Council – 20 March 2023
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Statement
By
His-Excellency Mr. Ali Bahreini
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran
to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva
Before
The Human Rights Council
52nd Session
Item 4: ID with Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
(A/HRC/52/67)
Geneva, 20 March 2023
بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم
Mr. President,
Tomorrow is the first day of Iranian New year and the International Day of NOWRUZ that is celebrated across the continents. Happy Nowruz to all who celebrate it and may the spirit of spring and Nowruz bring dignity, honesty and justice to our world.
Mr. President,
Advocacy for human rights is increasingly mistaken by some States and human rights mandate holders for their unwarranted and egotistic purposes. Abusing the UN human rights mechanisms to single out and target those nations with independent foreign policy, is void of any added value for protection of human rights.
The Council’s mandate is best fulfilled by dialogue and cooperation, in accordance with the principles of non-selectivity, objectivity and impartiality. The Council should distance itself from politicization, stigmatization and stereotyping which can only create division and confrontation and transform human rights into a tool in line with political agendas of some countries.
Mr. President,
The allegations made by Mr. Javaid Rehman in his report, which are read like a tragic novel, have been repeated by a number of Western governments and their media outlets and terrorist groups stationed in their countries in the past months. They tried to portray their imaginations as the reality of human rights situation in Iran.
Mr. President,
Mr. Javaid Rehman, in total disregard of his duties under Resolution 5/2, which emphasizes the impartiality of the special rapporteurs, unfortunately, plays the role of the opposition. In all his writings and statements, he uses biased languages and violates the code of conduct of the special mandate holders.
Mr. President,
The Iranian people witnessed nearly three months of terrorist attacks and armed riots. However, Mr. Rehman did not even mention the Daesh terrorist attack on a religious site in Shiraz, which left 13 innocent women, children, and ordinary people martyred.
He also refrained from writing and speaking about the armed attacks on people in different provinces, the murder of passers-by and over 50 security forces who were violently martyred with stones, wood, iron, and live bullets used by the terrorist groups. Albeit all the detainees, except those who have committed murder and have private complaints, have been released, Javaid Rehman has totally ignored this fact and is still repeating the request for the release of the rioters.
Mr. President,
Last year, the Special Rapporteur on UCM paid a visit to Iran. During her 12-day stay in Iran, Madam. Alena Douhan met with all governmental and non-governmental sectors. In her report, presented to the Human Rights Council in September 2022, she explicitly touched upon the human rights violations of the Iranian people, especially the patients by UCMs. Was there a mention of her report in Javaid Rehman’s writing, which is supposed to be neutral? Well, you know the answer!
Mr. President,
In a hybrid war, more than 120 TV channels, 100 radio stations as well as dozens of websites and social networks locked their focus on the Iranian youth and children. They encouraged them to make bombs by teaching them about armed conflict. Recently, they have even attempted to construct a new scenario for pupils by poisoning them. We have distributed around 40 reports among all Missions and Human Rights Mechanisms in Geneva to elaborate on the realities on the ground. We sent our comments on the recent report of Mr. Rehman directly to the President of the Council and all Missions.
Mr. President,
It is a sheer hypocrisy that the perpetrators of crimes against Iranian people, advocate for the human rights of the Iranians and table draft resolutions against Iran, while depriving the same people of their basic rights to health, to education, and to life.
Mr. President,
Relying on the resolve and resilience of our people, and blessed by the blood and sweat of the noblesse of our nation, the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue to pursue its constant progress in all areas including in the protection and promotion of human rights and dignity of its people.
I thank you.