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Baerbock is campaigning for action against Iran in the UN Human Rights Council

2022-11-24T05:31:50.222Z


There have been protests in Iran for two months, and hundreds have died. So far, the West has done little to counter the regime's brutal actions. Germany now wants to appeal to the UN Human Rights Council.


Enlarge image

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens)

Photo: Kay Nietfeld / dpa

Since September, people in Iran have been demonstrating for more women's rights and against the Tehran regime.

The death of the young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini had sparked unprecedented anger.

Now Germany's Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) wants to increase the pressure on Tehran in view of the ongoing violence against the protesters.

She wanted to speak personally at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday.

At the request of Germany and Iceland, a special session on Iran will take place there.

The request was supported by more than 50 countries.

Baerbock wants to promote a resolution that will be voted on in the afternoon.

The draft condemns the violence and calls on the government in Tehran to protect the human rights of women in particular.

In addition, an independent investigation into the events is to be initiated.

Evidence should also be collected, which can later be used in any court proceedings against those responsible for unnecessary violence.

Iran has opposed the move.

Diplomats are said to have pulled out all the stops to persuade the member countries of the UN Human Rights Council to reject the resolution.

According to state media, Foreign Minister Hussein Amirabdollahian said on Wednesday that the United States, Germany, France and England were interfering in internal affairs.

The security forces have so far held back.

All 193 UN members can support the resolution.

But there are only 47 governments in the Council that vote on it.

A simple majority of yes votes is sufficient for acceptance.

Abstentions are irrelevant.

It is considered impossible that Iran would allow independent human experts into the country.

However, many investigations are also carried out externally by questioning refugees and eyewitnesses.

Died because of the dress code

The violent death of Mahsa Amini on September 16 sparked demonstrations in Iran.

Amini was arrested by the vice squad for allegedly violating the strict dress code and died in police custody.

According to the US-based organization Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), at least 430 people have been killed since the protests broke out, including 55 security forces.

Six people have been sentenced to death after taking part in protests.

Thousands were arrested.

The new UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, wanted to speak for the first time in his new position at the special session.

The Austrian lawyer took office in October.

mrc/dpa

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-11-24

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