U.N. panel accuses Iran of cracking down on freedom of expression

By Louis Charbonneau
UNITED NATIONS, Nov 19 (Reuters) - The U.N. General
Assembly's human rights committee on Thursday criticized Iran
for cracking down on activists, journalists and dissidents and
its increased use of the death penalty, a rebuke Tehran
dismissed as "Iranophobia."
The non-binding resolution, which was drafted by Canada, was
adopted by the 193-nation assembly's Third Committee with 76
votes in favor, 35 against and 68 abstentions.
The resolution was not entirely critical. It also welcomed
pledges by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on "important human
rights issues, particularly on eliminating discrimination
against women and members of ethnic minorities, and on greater
space for freedom of expression and opinion."
However, it noted the "alarming high frequency" of the death
penalty in the Islamic Republic. The resolution said Iran
continued to execute minors in violation of international
conventions it has signed.
It also said some juvenile executions were for offenses not
considered "most serious crimes."
Iran's deputy U.N. representative, Ambassador Gholamhossein
Dehghani, slammed the resolution as a "selective and politicized
distortion of facts" reflective of "nothing but baseless and
pure speculation and hearsay and ... Iranophobia."
He had sharp words for Canada, saying it "stubbornly
continued a deliberate policy of incitement" toward Iran.
The United States and European countries were among the
resolution's co-sponsors. Among the countries that voted against
it were Tehran's allies Russia, China and Syria.
The resolution urged Tehran to improve conditions in Iranian
prisons and ensure there was no torture.
It demanded that Iran end what it said were "widespread and
serious restrictions, in law and in practice, on the right to
freedom of expression, opinion, association and peaceful
assembly" of dissidents and human rights defenders.
It said they were subjected to "ongoing harassment,
intimidation, arbitrary detention and prosecution."
The victims of such treatment include political opponents,
human rights defenders, women's and minority rights activists,
labor leaders, students' rights activists and others, it said.
Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps has
rounded up artists, journalists and U.S. citizens as part of a
crackdown on what it has called Western infiltration.
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Their campaign coincides with Iran beginning the
implementation of a nuclear deal signed with world powers in
July that hardliners fear will open Iran up more to the West.
Most journalists arrested in recent weeks work for media
that support President Rouhani.
The resolution, along with similar ones on North Korea,
Myanmar and Syria, will go to a new vote at a General Assembly
plenary session next month.