Reactions to the Appointment of Ali Bahraini as Head of the Social Forum of the Human Rights Council: 'Shameful'

The appointment of Ali Bahraini, Iran's ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, as the head of the Social Forum of the Human Rights Council has sparked reactions on social media. The head of the UN Human Rights Council, Vatslav Balek, announced in a letter on Wednesday, May 10, that a two-day session of the Social Forum will be held in November this year under Bahraini's presidency. Balek stated that the topics to be discussed at the Social Forum will focus on the role of science, technology, and innovation in advancing human rights. This news comes at a time when the Iranian government recently executed two social media users on charges of 'apostasy.' Youssef Mehrad and Sadrollah Fazeli-Zarei, who managed several Telegram channels, were executed on Monday, May 8, on charges of 'insulting the Prophet' and 'apostasy.' The appointment of Ali Bahraini as head of the Social Forum has faced widespread criticism from human rights activists and social media users. Hillel Neuer, an international human rights lawyer and executive director of UN Watch, called this appointment 'shameful' in a tweet. Neuer pointed out that this year's theme of the forum is 'technology and the promotion of human rights' and noted that the Iranian government 'hanged Youssef Mehrad and Sadrollah Fazeli-Zarei for using social media to criticize religion.' He deemed this action by the UN an insult to the tens of thousands who have fallen victim to violence, beatings, torture, rape, and murder by the Islamic Republic. This human rights activist launched an online campaign urging Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, to halt this 'shameful' appointment. Maryam Bani Hashemi, a human rights activist, also criticized the appointment of the Iranian representative as head of the Social Forum, which this year focuses on 'technology and the promotion of human rights,' stating that the Islamic Republic, which heads this council, 'has executed more than 215 people in 2023 alone, imprisoned tens of thousands for protesting its crimes, killed over six hundred people including 74 children, blinded dozens of youths with direct gunfire, and cut off the internet so the world cannot hear their voices!' She further stated, 'An organization where the Islamic Republic becomes its head and Russia heads the Security Council should be shut down.' UN officials and the Iranian government have yet to respond to this news. Human rights organizations accuse the Iranian government of suppressing the free flow of information in the country through threats and the detention of journalists. According to Reporters Without Borders, Iran ranks 177th out of 180 countries in terms of media freedom. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: The statistics on executions in Iran are 'horrific.' UN human rights experts have called for a halt to executions in Iran. The Supreme Court confirmed the death sentences of three protesters; the Iranian judiciary defended the execution of Asiyud. There have been widespread reactions to executions in Iran; the US: a sign of the regime's 'eagerness' to violate human rights. The 'U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom' expressed concern over the enforcement of strict laws under the pretext of 'insulting the sacred.'