Iran: Violators of nations’ rights cannot lecture others on human rights

Tehran has dismissed the credibility of a politically-biased resolution against Iran that was narrowly adopted by the Human Rights Council, saying those who infringe upon the rights of other nations are not entitled to lecture about human rights, and must be held to account for their own gross abuses.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said in remarks on Wednesday that certain European countries had been behind the resolution, which was passed owing to “ill-founded, nonconsensual, and internationally illegitimate votes.”

On March 23, the final day of the 46th regular session of the Human Rights Council, the Council adopted the resolution by a vote of 21 in favor, 12 against and 14 abstentions, and extended the mandate of the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, for a year.

The countries that voted ‘yes’ mainly included the European states and governments considered as vassal states for Western powers such as Fiji, the Marshal Islands, and Bahrain.

Khatibzadeh criticized the resolution for extending the mandate of a rapporteur whose reports fail to make any mention of the deaths of dozens of Iranian children and hundreds of patients lacking access to medicine due to the American sanctions.

He said all anti-Iran resolutions adopted since March 2011 have been anchored in unsubstantiated allegations, and that Tehran has frequently termed the appointment of a special human rights rapporteur for the country as an inexcusable and unconstructive move.

“Countries that abuse other nations’ rights can neither portray themselves as advocates of human rights, nor can they judge other states on the situation of human rights. They must, instead, be held accountable for their own crimes regarding blatant violations of human rights,” the official said.

He underlined that Iran has always lived up to its commitments towards its own citizens and the international community despite being subject to US economic terrorism.

Khatibzadeh said Iran is a religious democracy and strives for the promotion of human rights at national, regional and international levels within the framework of its religious obligations and Constitution.

The Iranian official criticized the sponsors of the resolution for their instrumental and political use of human rights, and for refusing to acknowledge the beliefs and cultural values particular to each nation.

Influenced by propaganda and psychological warfare, they are detached from reality and keep silent about the flagrant violations of the Iranian nation’s rights under cruel Western sanctions.

“Supporters of this resolution should primarily condemn the US administration’s acts of economic terrorism, escalation of unilateral and oppressive sanctions, and acknowledge how the sanctions impede the Iranian people's access to basic necessities such as medical supplies at the time of the global pandemic,” Khatibzadeh said.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman also denounced the politicization of human rights and the exercise of double standards, saying those who engineered the resolution should rather declare their positions on the violent suppression of recent protests in the US.

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