The head of Iran’s Human Rights Council says Iran has no objection to the United Nation’s special rapporteur visiting Iran.
Mohammad Javad Lairijani said in a meeting with the Japanese Ambassador: “Iran is maintaining its position of welcoming all reporters and has no problem with their visiting Iran.”
He claimed seven rapporteurs have so far been welcomed in Iran, adding that Iran is critical of the lack of professionalism and technical precision of the ensuing reports.
“Iran’s stance regarding the reporting mechanism of the Human Rights Council, especially regarding UPR [the UN’s Universal Periodic Review], is positive and supportive,” Larijani said. “However, by using transparent and accurate methods, we must not allow the reporting mechanism to be turned into a propaganda machine.”
The UPR is a review of the human rights report cards of United Nation’s member states, published every four years to improve human rights in the world.
“If a rapporteur travels to Iran in order to review 200 cases but only has a three-day stay, then we know that the job will not have a strong process and will lack professionalism,” Larijani said.
He added that Iran is more than ready for all forms of international cooperation because it is confident in the oversight of its judicial system.
On March 24, the United Nation’s Human Rights Council in Geneva agreed to appoint a special human rights rapporteur for Iran for the first time in 10 years.
Of the 47 members nations, 22 voted for the move while 14 rejected it and seven states abstained.
The council cited the “oppression of dissidents” and a “surge in executions in Iran” as the reasons for its decision.
Iran condemned the resolution and described it as a political move prompted by U.S. pressure.
