London, Dec. 17 – The United Nations General Assembly adopted on Friday a resolution censuring widespread human rights violations in Iran.The Assembly expressed its serious concern over the continuing harassment, intimidation and persecution of human rights defenders, non-governmental organisations, political opponents, religious dissenters, journalists, and students through undue restrictions on freedoms of assembly, press and expression, arbitrary arrests, as well as the disqualification of large numbers of prospective candidates during the June 2005 presidential elections.
The resolution had 75 votes in its favour and 50 against, with 43 abstentions.
It called on Iran to end the persecution of political opponents and human rights defenders.
It went on to say that Iran must “eliminate the use of torture and other cruel, inhuman punishments, end impunity for violations of human rights, abolish public executions, particularly those who were under the age of 18 at the time of their offence, and eliminate all forms of discrimination and violence against women and minorities”.
Iran’s theocratic regime has been repeatedly censured by the General Assembly and the United Nations Human Rights Commission for continuing human rights abuses.
