UN rebukes Iran for severe rights abuses
New York — UN General Assembly adopted a resolution, by a recorded vote of 84 in favor to 30 against, with 67 abstentions, condemning Iran’s human rights violations. It expressed grave concern over the high number of executions, especially juveniles, arbitrary and systematic arrests, and atrocious prison conditions. The UN resolution stressed the “alarmingly high frequency” of the use of the death penalty including against minors, “the widespread and systematic use of arbitrary detention,” poor prison conditions, “deliberately denying prisoners access to adequate medical treatment,” and “cases of suspicious deaths in custody.” The resolution “strongly urges” Iran to eliminate discrimination against women in law and practice and expresses “serious concern about ongoing severe limitations and restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.” It singles out violations including harassment, intimidation and persecution against religious minorities. Mary...