The head of Iran’s judiciary has denounced the recent UN resolution that criticizes Iran for human rights violations, pointing out that public hanging is a part of Islamic law.
ISNA reports that Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani told a meeting of senior judicial officials that the UN human rights resolution regarding Iran is “repetitive, all lies and all informed with anti-Revolutionary rhetoric.”
On Monday, the United Nations approved a resolution condemning widespread human rights violations in Iran. The resolution, which was put forth by Canada, passed 89 to 30 with 64 abstaining.
The resolution cites “floggings, dismemberment and an increase in executions” in the Islamic Republic as serious signs of growing human rights violations. The resolution also mentions restrictions on free assembly and freedom of thought and religion, as well as the “cruel and inhuman treatment” of people.
Ayatollah Larijani insisted that the resolution was based on “inaccurate and undocumented” research supplied by anti-Revolutionaries.”
Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic prevented the UN’s Ahmad Shaheed from travelling to Iran to inspect allegations of human rights violation. Shaheed was appointed as the UN special rapporteur on human rights for Iran earlier this year.
He has published a report based on research he collected from outside Iran, citing the mistreatment of civil activists, the lack of freedom of assembly and the disregard for women’s rights along with ethnic and other minority rights. His report also cited the growing number of executions and the persecution of citizens for contact with foreign institutions.
Ayatollah Larijani said allegations of “secret mass hangings” are “an absolute lie.”
In the past year, a number of Iranian human rights groups and activists have reported secret mass hangings in Iranian prisons, particularly in Mashhad Vakilabad Prison.
Ayatollah Larijani also said that on the subject of public hangings, the UN resolution actually repudiates Islamic law and contradicts the Quran.
Larijani added that the majority of executions are meted out for drug offences, which he calls a justified effort in the war against drugs.
