Iran denounces UN human rights resolution

International body accused Islamic Republic of excessive torture use, said death penalty in country 'alarming'

By AP 19 December 2013, 10:30 pm
An Iranian woman walks past protesters holding an Iranian flag and photos of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during an annual anti-American demonstration in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 4, 2013 (photo credit: AP/Ebrahim Noroozi)

Iran’s state TV is saying the country’s foreign ministry has rejected a UN human rights resolution, calling it biased.

The Thursday report quotes spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham as saying the resolution is “full of untrustworthy items” and presents no evidence except reports by western sources and “terrorist groups.”

Afkham accused the West of systematically violating human rights itself but using claims of its infringement for political gain against other countries.

Earlier on Wednesday the UN General Assembly approved a resolution criticizing Iran for serious rights violations, including torture. It also said it used the death penalty at an “alarming” rate.

The vote Wednesday was 86 to 36, with 61 countries abstaining. General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding.

Iran regularly denies such allegations, calling them politically motivated.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press

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