Iranian Parliament Bars Entry of UN Human Rights Rapporteur

Tehran, Jun 20: Iran will not allow the UN human rights special rapporteur to travel to the country over human rights issues.

Vice-Chairman of the Iranian Parliament's Human Rights Committee Mohammad-Karim Abedi said that in the meeting session of the committee, it was emphasised that the UN Human Rights special rapporteur not to be allowed into the country.

The UN Human Rights Council in March narrowly approved a US and Swedish-backed proposal for appointing a special rapporteur to investigate allegations of human rights violations in Iran.

"The United States, the UK and the Zionist regime (of Israel) are the greatest violators of the human rights in the world," said Abedi, adding that "the United Nations Human Rights Council should investigate into the violation of human rights in those countries instead of Iran."

The violation of the human rights allegations against Iran are aimed at political objectives, said the Iranian lawmaker who is also a member of the Parliament's Foreign Policy and National Security Commission.

The Islamic Republic denounced the move as politically-motivated, saying that the measure is aimed at diverting attention from human rights abuses committed by the United States.

Also Head of the Iranian parliament's Human Rights Committee Zohreh Elahian slammed the western countries for using human rights issues as a tool and pretext to pressure the independent states to conceal their crimes and wrong deeds.

"We do not accept the UN's special rapporteur on human rights since we are well aware of the hidden goals and political prejudice behind the human rights resolution against Iran," Elahian said yesterday.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran only accepts interaction in balanced relations and will not bow to political pressures," she added.

PTI (FNA)