UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Next week, the United States will put the United Nations spotlight on protests in Iran sparked by the death of a young woman in police custody and call for a credible and independent investigation into Iran’s human rights abuses. Seek ways to promote. .
The United States and Albania will hold an informal UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday, according to a memo outlining the event seen by Reuters. Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi and Iranian-born actress and activist Nazanin Boniadi will be briefings.
“The conference will focus on the current crackdown on women and girls and members of religious and ethnic minority groups in Iran,” the memo said. “It will identify opportunities to facilitate credible and independent investigations into the Iranian government’s human rights violations and abuses.”
Javaid Rehman, the United Nations Independent Investigator on Human Rights in Iran, will also address the conference, which will be open to other United Nations member states and rights groups.
Iran has been haunted by protests since the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Martha Amini in police custody last month. This unrest has morphed into a mass uprising by Iranians from all walks of life, posing one of the most daring challenges to clerical leaders since the 1979 revolution.
Iran blames foreign enemies and their proxies for the unrest.
An Iranian mission to the United Nations in New York accused the United States and its allies of misusing their platform “to further their political agenda.”
“Given its hypocrisy, use of double standards, and selective application of human rights, the United States’ claims to support Iranian women prove deceptive and lacking in good faith.”
Rights groups say at least 250 protesters have been killed and thousands have been arrested across the country. Women have played an important role in protests, including taking off the veil and burning it. The deaths of several teenage girls reportedly killed during protests have sparked further anger.
“The conference will highlight the ongoing illegal use of force against protesters and the Iranian regime’s pursuit of human rights defenders and dissidents abroad to kidnap or assassinate them in violation of international law. ” read the note about the planned meeting.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric called on Iranian authorities on Friday to address “the public’s legitimate grievances, including over women’s rights.”
“We condemn all incidents that have resulted in the death or serious injury of demonstrators and that security forces must avoid all unnecessary or unjustifiable use of force against peaceful demonstrators,” Dujarric said at a press conference. I would like to reiterate,” he said. ‘Those in charge must be held accountable’
Reported by Michelle Nichols.Edited by Daniel Wallis
Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
