Iran, UN Human Rights Report &
State of Minorities and Geo-Politics
Guardian published a story at October 04, 2016 Ban Ki-moon troubled by lack of progress on human rights in Iran. It is written in the background of a UN report about Iran by Ban ki Moon. You can read the UN report by clicking below
Iran has a history of human rights violations yet it took a religious cum sectarian turn after 1979 revolution in general yet pinpointing same old things in 2016 looks tricky. Although supporters of Iran in Pakistan accepted these violations in private meetings yet in public forums they hardly accept it. It is same when one talk to supporters of KSA. As usual Iranian FM denied it but most interesting development was observed when Iranian lawmakers introduce bill to reduce executions. But at international front some old powers are not happy with Post Nuclear deal Iran. Timing of the report is tricky due to Syrian crisis too yet position of Iran regarding minorities is complex too.
The case of Bahai community is a special case.
Some Extracts
Discrimination and persecution of other minority groups also remain
prevalent. Ethnic minority groups, including Arabs, Azeris, Baluch and Kurds, face
discrimination in gaining access to university studies, employment, business
licences and economic aid, getting permission to publish books and exercising their
civil and political rights. Those groups are deprived of the right to teach in their
native languages in schools. The authorities have only recently introduced Kurdish
language and literature programmes in the curriculum of some high schools and
universities in Kurdistan Province.52 The Baluch-dominated Sistan-Baluchistan
Province remains severely underdeveloped, with inhabitants having limited access
to education, employment, health care and housing. Frequently, Baluch journalists
and human rights activists face arbitrary arrest, physical abuse during detention and
unfair trials. The Government also discriminates against Azeris by prohibiting the
use of the Azeri language in schools and through harassment of Azeris.
In February 2016, the Vice-President for Women and Family Affairs,
Shahindokht Molaverdi, was quoted saying that there were villages in Sistan-Baluchistan
Province where every man had been executed for drug-related offences.
Ms. Molaverdi was critical of the lack of support by the authorities for the families
of those executed.4 On 10 April 2016, the a judiciary spokesperson stated that
Ms. Molaverdi had been summoned to the prosecutor’s office to provide an
explanation for her comments.5
That widespread attitude reflects the fact that only around
17 per cent of women between the ages of 15 and 64 are active in the labour market.
While women in general face barriers, the situation is more acute for those of lower
economic status and members of minority groups, in particular the Baha’i.
The special procedures mandate holders and treaty bodies have referred to the
Baha’i as the most severely persecuted religious minority in the Islamic Republic of
Iran, with its members subjected to multiple forms of discrimination that affect their
enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights.
On 8 March 2016, Rohie Safajoo was arrested for allegedly “acting against
national security on cyberspace” and was released on 27 March 2016 after posting a
bail of 500 million rials (about $16,500). In 2014 and 2015, although she had passed
the annual university exam, her results were withheld owing to her Baha’i faith, and
she was consequently unable to pursue higher education.
The Secretary-General urges the Government to remove all
discriminatory provisions in legislation that affect women, in accordance with
international standards, and to develop comprehensive national strategies to
address harmful and violent practices against women and girls, including
underage marriage. He urges the Government to take concrete and strong
measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women in all spheres
of life.
The Secretary-General urges the Government to take prompt steps to
protect the rights of all persons belonging to religious and ethnic minorities and
to remove and address all forms of discrimination against them.
Further readings
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