Human Rights in Iran & Saeed Abedini

HRC 25 session - Item 4. Human Rights in Iran. Clustered ID

17 March 2014 - Speaker: Joy Mdivo

Thank you Mr President.

The ECLJ would like to thank and congratulate the Special Rapporteur for his Report and activities. Despite language from the Islamic Republic of Iran espousing new moderate foreign policies, the reality on the ground is that human rights for the religious minorities have not improved under President Rouhani. It is essential that the international community meet words with words, and action with action.

Articles 18 and 19 of the ICCPR provides that each individual has the right to choose, hold and express one’s faith without interference. Furthermore, Article 21 of the ICCPR expresses that the basic right to freedom of peaceful assembly applies “without distinction of any kind” and necessarily includes freedom of religious assembly.  Whiles these rights are enshrined in the Iranian constitution – they are rarely realised for religious minorities living within the country’s borders.

It is with these fundamental principles in mind that the ECLJ would like to bring to the Council’s attention to the on going human rights violation by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the case of Saeed Abedini, who is currently imprisoned for the peaceful, private expression of his religion. Saeed was arrested during his visit to Iran to build a government-endorsed orphanage. Though Saeed was tried and convicted of a national security offense, the basis for his crime was his peaceful association and expression with members of his religious community in private homes.  whereas it has neither promulgated a law prohibiting such religious expression nor has it proved how infringing on the right of expression is necessary to its national security.

Saeed has been repeatedly brutalized and denied necessary medical care needed to treat injuries he sustained from physical beatings by his interrogators.

Now that the Islamic Republic of Iran’s current administration has expressed a desire to recognise its citizens’ basic and inalienable  human rights, this Council is presented with a unique opportunity to urge the Islamic Republic of Iran to take further action in this direction and act in accordance with its laws and international obligations.  As Iranians begin the Noruz celebrations at the end of March, we respectfully request the Islamic Republic of Iran to show mercy to Saeed and grant him clemency. The ECLJ recommends that the Human Rights Council work with the Iranian government to see that religious minorities are protected and that those religious prisoners, including Saeed Abedini, held in violation of their human rights be released immediately. We further encourage members of this Council to renew the country mandate for Iran at the end of this session.