The following remarks were presented by B'nai B'rith International primary Geneva Representative Klaus Netter at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on behalf of B'nai B'rith International and the Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations.

 U.N HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL -15TH SESSION - ITEM 4

Statement delivered on Sept. 20, 2010 by B'nai B'rith International
on behalf of the Coordinating Board of Jewish Organizations

Mr President,

I wish to refer to the resolution on the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran that was passed by the European Parliament just 12 days ago by an overwhelming majority and which included a request that its text be forwarded to this Council. This Council cannot ignore it without humiliating a body composed of 47 European countries. Time does not permit me to cite the large number of abuses contained in the resolution, but allow me, Mr President, to cite just a few.

1. The Islamic Republic holds the world record for capital punishment of juveniles, having handed down 2000 such convictions this year alone.

2. That country still imposes the cruel and inhumane method of stoning for cases of "adultery", a sentence that attracted worldwide condemnation in the case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.

3. Human rights lawyers have been forced to flee the country, such as Mohammad Mostafaei, or have been arrested, as in the case of Nasrin Sotoudeh, whose arrest occurred as recently as this month.

4. The persecution of religious and ethnic minorities goes on, as exemplified by the sentencing last month of seven Baha'i leaders to 20 years' imprisonment on charges of propaganda against the State and espionage.

Mr President, in view of the above and other charges levelled by the European Parliament, we urge this Council to endorse at least some of the actions called for by that Parliament, among which:

1. The abolition of stoning as a method of execution.

2. The abolition of capital punishment for juveniles.

3. The abolition of criminalization of consensual adult sexual relations, homosexuality and “adultery”, which applies both to married and unmarried persons.

4. Ratification by that country of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

5. Granting access by the Red Cross to all prisoners.

6. The immediate release of human rights lawyers.

7. Last but hardly least, the re-establishment of a mandate for a Special Rapporteur to investigate human rights abuses in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Thank you, Mr President.