The head of the Iranian judiciary’s Human Rights Headquarters has written to the United Nation’s High Commissioner of Human Rights to denounce the “biased positions and unprofessional performance” of the UN’s human rights rapporteur for Iran.
Mohammad Javad Larijani's official letter has been published in the Iranian media. The letter maintains that Ahmad Shaheed’s method of operation violates international laws and regulations, and it calls for a review of the “destructive and nonconstructive process” initiated by Shaheed.
Ahmad Shaheed became the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in Iran more than three years ago, an assignment that was renewed once again for another year in 2014. Iran says his appointment is politically motivated and biased and the Islamic Republic refuses to recognize or cooperate with him.
Larijani states that Shaheed has focused on supporting “offenders and criminals, while ignoring the real victims of human rights violations that result from sanctions, the use of chemical weapons, terrorist activities and violations of the rights of Iranians abroad.”
Navi Pillay, the UN’s High Commissioner of Human Rights, recently called for human rights issues to be included in the ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the 5+1; however, Abbas Araghchi, a top Iranian diplomat and member of the negotiating team, has announced that the current negotiations are not concerned with human rights issues.
Ahmad Shaheed has never been allowed to travel to Iran, and Iranian authorities maintain that his reports are all based on accounts by opposition forces outside Iran who are hostile to the Islamic Republic.
