UN

ECLJ to United Nations:  Hold Iran Accountable for Human Rights Violations

By ECLJ1253540103057

(Washington, DC) - The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), the international affiliate of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), has asked the United Nations to hold Iran and its president accountable for violating the human rights of its citizens and violating international law.  The ECLJ has filed a petition with the U.N. Special Rapporteurs urging the U.N. to take action to hold Iran accountable for deadly violence in the wake of the controversial re-election of Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  The petition is highly critical of what the ECLJ calls Iran’s “massive brutal campaign to quash political discourse” and comes just days before the Iranian President is scheduled to appear at the United Nations.

“It is clear that the Iranian government and its president have no respect for the human rights of its citizens,” said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel ECLJ.  “Iran continues to show a flagrant disregard for the rule of law and continues to violate the most basic human rights of its citizens.  In addition to the violence and crackdown on its citizens, we’re also deeply concerned by the unlawful prosecution by the Iranian government of its citizens in connection with the recent election.  Iran has a very troubling record of abusing its citizens and this most recent campaign to quash political discourse is very disturbing.  It’s time that Iran is held accountable for its serious and repeated violations of human rights and international law.”

In its petition, the ECLJ urges the United Nations to accomplish the following:

“We urge you to support measures designed to pressure the Iranian regime to (1) enforce the rule of law within Iran's borders to prosecute those responsible for the rape and other indignities, (2) ensure a impartial judiciary, (3) stop persecution on the basis of viewpoint, peaceful demonstration, opinion, expression, and association, (4) release all prisoners who are not charged, (5) allow human rights groups, NFOs and lawyers access to the Court, and consultations with government officials from the Prosecutor office, (6) allow foreign and domestic press into Iran to cover the political events and criminal trials, (7) allow U.N. observers into the prisons to investigate abuse allegations, and (8) discuss the Iranian situation with Mahmoud Ahmadinajad during his upcoming visit to the U.N.”

The ECLJ specifically cites Iran’s violations of the U.N.’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  The petition contends that Iran “must be held accountable” for violations of international law including violating citizens’ freedom of expression, association, assembly, and participation in public affairs.

“It is in the best interest of the Iranian people to have their government properly pressured by your offices to comply with international human rights norms and its own commitments,” the ECLJ petition argues.  “We recommend and fully endorse appropriate measures that would be suitable in gaining Iranian compliance.  The human rights and dignity of the Iranian citizenry is in the utmost peril and must be ensured by all legal remedies available.  We urge you to work towards this end result.”

You can read the ECLJ petition filed with the U.N. here.

Led by Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, the ACLJ focuses on constitutional law and is based in Washington, D.C.  Its international affiliate, the ECLJ, is an international law firm focusing on the protection of human rights and religious freedom in Europe and worldwide.

Attorneys for the ECLJ have served as counsel in numerous cases before the European Court of Human Rights.  Additionally, the ECLJ has special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the United Nations, and is accredited to the European Parliament.

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