Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Iran - Canada will be punished, by Noémie Cournoyer
Iran threatens to deprive Canada of positive relationships ...
Washington, Nov 18 (IranVNC) - A resolution presented to the UN by Canada to denounce the human rights situation in Iran could deprive the country of opportunity to establish links fair with the Islamic Republic, said a source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran to the official news agency IRNA in an interview today.
The third committee of the UN General Assembly must vote on November 21 on the resolution presented by Canada. The resolution describes human rights violations in Iran and calls on Iran to stop it.
If approved, the resolution would be subject to a final vote by the General Assembly plenary.
"By developing and presenting this anti-Iran resolution, Canada is demonstrating once again its hostility towards the Iranian nation," according to the news agency, quoting an "informed source".
The source continued: "The current approach of the Canadian government would effectively deprive the country of the chance to enjoy fair and equal relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran".
"The gesture of Canada hostile to the Islamic Republic of Iran deserves an appropriate response," added the source.
The resolution calls that Iran put an end to torture and "degrading punishment, public executions, execution of juvenile offenders, discrimination against women and minorities. The resolution further calls the "empowerment" of the Baha'i community and the release of political prisoners, according to the website of the Canadian MP David Kilgour.
The text also calls on Iran to respect the rule of law and the right to a fair trial, and requests an update on the situation of human rights in that country to UN Secretary General, Ban Ki -moon.
Canada tabled a resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran every year since the death of photo-journalist Zahra Kazemi montéalaise to prisoin Evin Tehran in July 2003.
Lawyers for the Kazemi family have said she had been beaten to death in prison. Iran has accused Reza Ahmadi, an intelligence agent for his murder but was acquitted.
Iran has allowed no international team of forensic experts to examine the body of Kazemi, who was buried before his family could see it.
Labels: Canada, Iran, Noémie Cournoyer
# posted by Francis Chartrand @ 11:18 PM 
Subscribe to Comments [Atom]