Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Minister for Legal and International Affairs of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday, January 24, 2025.
Presenting the regime’s defense of its fourth report on human rights in Iran, Gharibabadi asserted that the regime had made “serious progress” in human rights. However, his statements starkly contrasted with the growing evidence of severe human rights violations in Iran.
During his speech, Gharibabadi criticized “countries claiming human rights,” accusing them of imposing sanctions and supporting “terrorists” to challenge Iran’s regime. Without addressing the widespread and well-documented human rights abuses within Iran, he insisted that the regime adheres to its international human rights obligations.
Dubious Claims on Gender Equality and Education
Gharibabadi claimed there is “no gender division in Iran” and that women’s rights are respected. He dismissed the findings of Mai Sato, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, calling her report a misrepresentation of Iran’s human rights realities. According to Gharibabadi, human rights education is a priority in Iranian schools and universities. He stated that over 800 human rights and citizenship training courses had been conducted for judges, law enforcement personnel, and prison staff, totaling 280,000 man-hours.
Contradictions on the Death Penalty
While international human rights organizations report an alarming increase in executions in Iran, Gharibabadi claimed that reforms to the anti-narcotics law have significantly reduced punishments in drug-related cases. However, reports suggest otherwise, highlighting a surge in death sentences, including executions for drug-related offenses.
Regarding executions for murder, Gharibabadi framed retribution (“qisas”) as a “personal right” that can only be waived with the consent of the victim’s family. He claimed that 835 cases of murder charges had led to “peace and reconciliation” in the past six months, including 21 cases involving individuals under the age of 18.
Child Executions and International Concerns
Despite these assertions, human rights organizations report that at least five child offenders were executed in Iran’s prisons recently. In response to concerns raised by the representative of Costa Rica about the execution of children, Gharibabadi denied the occurrence of such cases, contradicting documented evidence.
Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed profound concern over the sharp rise in executions in Iran, noting that at least 901 people were executed in 2024. This figure includes 31 women, marking the highest annual number of executions for women in the past 17 years. Currently, at least 54 individuals are on death row in Iran’s prisons for political or security-related charges.
A Propaganda Exercise
Gharibabadi’s statements appeared to serve as a propaganda effort by one of the world’s most repressive regimes, diverting attention from its ongoing human rights abuses. Human rights organizations continue to document systemic violations, including the repression of dissent, suppression of protests, and widespread use of the death penalty. The disconnect between the regime’s claims and the reality on the ground underscores the urgent need for international scrutiny and accountability.
Source » irannewsupdate