Vice-president of Paris-based International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) spoke with Rooz about conditions of human rights in Iran and the report of the UN Secretary General on the issue. Read on for the exchange.
Rooz (R): In the past, special UN reporters had traveled to Iran to investigate the country’s human rights conditions. This year they have not been given this opportunity because Iranian officials have not denied them entry visas. What will be the impact of this on their report?
Abdolkarim Lahijee (AL): Currently there are two human rights groups inside and outside Iran working with FIDH, which is in a position to express its views on human rights on the UN Human Rights Council. We regularly inform the Council and the (Human Rights) Commissioner of the status of human rights in Iran. So there is no black out on what is happening in Iran. The reporters of course must be satisfied and convinced about reports and statements, but because of the relationship based on trust that exists between human rights NGOs and human rights institutions, and because the majority of violations are communicated to international organization, I do not believe that simply because representatives cannot be sent to the quality of the final report by the Secretary General will be effected and the human rights situation in Iran will resonate in UN’s human rights forums.
R: How will the report look like?
AL: An issue that has raised serious concern about Iran is the new Islamic punishment bill that was presented to the seventh (previous) Majlis and which remains on the agenda. This bill provides for cruel punishments, such as stoning, and even death to those what are labeled as “mortad”, i.e. literally those who have turned away from Islam. This is the fist time such punishment is being coded into law. So the pace of executions and the extent of physical punishment in Iran, including torture, repeated punishment of human rights and women’s rights activists, of journalists that include Mr. Kaboodvand, Baghi, Rownak Saffarzadeh and Hanna Abdi will be the headings of the report. I think freedom of consciousness, of religion, and the recent arrest of Bahai leaders in Iran who are still behind bars, will be other headings in the UN report.
R: What is the Iranian government’s response expected to be?
AL: The Islamic Republic of Iran will use all its efforts to prevent the passage of a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council and in the Third Committee. In fact, Iran has learned what China has been doing for years and will try to copy it, i.e. call for a No Action by voting on the subject a day before the resolution is to be discussed in the Third Committee of the General Assembly, thus prevent the discussion or passage of a resolution. In any case, what is clear is that at the next UN General Assembly meeting, the Islamic Republic will try its utmost to kill the subject, and a possible resolution, at the Third Committee or, if goes through, at the General Assembly.
R: What instruments will the Islamic Republic use to confront the passage of a UN resolution?
AL: It is clear to us that in addition to offering lucrative business and diplomatic perks, Iranian officials must have on their agenda extensive plans to lobby with other countries against the process, aimed at influencing them officially and unofficially. Unfortunately such give and take does exist in international relations. The Islamic Republic will use every trick in the book to prevent a resolution against it, just as it has in the past and to which we have been witness.
