The UN Commission on Human Rights has, for the third year in a row, failed to pass a resolution calling for the international monitoring of human rights violations of Baha’is in Iran.

From the Baha’i World News Service Story:

“In view of the sharp increase of human rights violations against the Baha’i community of Iran, it is nothing less than shocking that the Commission on Human Rights has for the third year in a row failed to renew international monitoring of the situation,” said Bani Dugal, principal representative of the Baha’i International Community to the United Nations.

“Over the past year, two important Baha’i holy places have been destroyed, Baha’i students have been denied access to higher education, and, most recently, Baha’is in Yazd and Tehran have been swept up in a new wave of assaults, harassment and detentions.

“All of this has come as part of a continuing pattern of religious persecution instigated and condoned by the Iranian government, which has in years past faced the clear condemnation of the international community for its actions,” said Ms. Dugal.

…

Between 1978 and 1998, the Iranian government executed more than 200 Baha’is. Hundreds more Baha’is were imprisoned, and tens of thousands were deprived of jobs, pensions, businesses, and educational opportunities.

Funny thing though, just a week ago UN Secretary General Kofi Annan accused the current Human Rights Commision of undermining the credibility of the entire UN (Link to the BBC story here). Seems some people think entrusting the monitoring of human rights abuses shouldn’t be left to countries like Sudan, Zimbabwe, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia who are all accused of rights abuses and are all current members of the commision.

You should all also note that the UN General Assembly did pass a resolution on December 20, 2004 expressing “serious concern” over the human rights situation in Iran, making specific mention of the ongoing persecution of the Baha’i community there.

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