Extension of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran; Reaction from the Islamic Republic's Representative

The UN Human Rights Council has approved a resolution to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran for another year. In the meeting on Friday, March 22, 22 countries agreed to extend the mandate, while seven countries opposed it. 18 countries abstained from voting. Afghanistan, China, Cuba, Eritrea, India, Iraq, and Pakistan were the seven opposing countries. Meanwhile, according to IRNA news agency, Ismail Baqaei, Iran's representative at the European headquarters of the UN, called the appointment of a Special Rapporteur for Iran an "unfair, unjustified, and insincere design by a few specific governments." He added, "This resolution and the mandate of the Special Rapporteur only reinforce the fictitious stereotypes against Iran, and it is regrettable that the time and budget of the Human Rights Council are spent on such stereotyping by a small number against a member of the UN." Previously, 42 human rights organizations had issued a statement referring to the "systematic violation of human rights in Iran" and requested the UN Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran. The UN Human Rights Council had extended the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran on March 23. However, due to the death of Asma Jahangir, the Council introduced Javid Rahman as the new Special Rapporteur on July 6. Asma Jahangir had started her work in November 2016 after the end of Ahmad Shahid's mandate as the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran. Before her, Ahmad Shahid, a Maldivian diplomat and human rights activist, held this position for five years starting in 2011. The Islamic Republic has not allowed Ahmad Shahid, Asma Jahangir, or Javid Rahman to travel to Iran. Before the transformation of the UN Human Rights Commission into the Human Rights Council, Reynaldo Galindo Pohl served as the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran from 1986 to 1994, and Maurice Capiton served from 1995 to 2000. As Mr. Capiton told Radio Free Europe, after the publication of his first report, "the leaders of the Islamic Republic became so angry" that they no longer allowed him to travel to Iran. The UN General Assembly had approved a resolution on December 17 condemning the violation of human rights in Iran. This resolution referred to reports of torture of prisoners, arbitrary arrests, trials without due process, threats against human rights activists, and restrictions on freedom of expression, stating that the Iranian government does not comply with international norms and standards.