Iran thanks Pakistan for opposing human rights vote at UN in Geneva

Iran’s ambassador to Pakistan publicly thanked Islamabad for opposing a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution that deepens international scrutiny of Tehran’s crackdown on protests.

“I extend my sincere gratitude to the esteemed Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, under the leadership of the Honorable Prime Minister HE Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister HE Muhammad Ishaq Dar,” Iran’s Ambassador Raza Amiri Moghadam said in a post on X.

He said Pakistan provided “historic and unwavering support” to Iran at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva by calling for a vote and casting a negative vote against what he described as an “unjustified resolution aimed at Iran.”

“I convey my special gratitude to the competent and professional representatives of the Permanent Mission of Pakistan in Geneva for their tireless efforts and dedication in the pursuit of justice,” he said.

Moghadam said Pakistan’s stance marked “the third consecutive defeat of unprovoked and politically motivated actions against Iran over the past year,” referring to what he called “the twelve-day unprovoked aggression, the recent foreign-backed riots aimed at destabilizing the country, and the misuse of international organizations to pursue capricious and hostile agendas by certain members.”

“Such strong support is a clear reflection of Pakistan’s enduring commitment to justice, multilateralism, respect for human rights and national sovereignty, and will be remembered with deep gratitude,” he added.

A day earlier, the 47-member U.N. Human Rights Council voted to expand its investigation into Iran over its violent crackdown on protests, which U.N. officials said left thousands dead, including children.

Read here: UNHRC condemns “unprecedented” repression in Iran

With 25 votes in favor, seven against and the rest abstentions, the council decided to expand and expand the mandate of independent investigators who gather evidence to ensure accountability for human rights violations in Iran.

The council expressed alarm at “the unprecedented scale of the violent repression of peaceful protests by security forces.”

“A climate of fear and systematic impunity cannot be tolerated,” said Icelandic ambassador Einar Gunnarsson when presenting the resolution. “Victims and survivors deserve truth, justice and accountability.”

The adopted text extended the mandate of the UN special rapporteur on Iran for another year and extended by two years the work of a separate fact-finding mission established in November 2022 after protests broke out over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurdish woman.

The resolution empowers investigators to investigate “allegations of recent and ongoing serious human rights violations and abuses, and crimes perpetrated in connection with the protests.”

The vote came after an urgent council session requested by Britain, Germany, Iceland, Moldova and North Macedonia, a move harshly criticized by Iran.

In his opening remarks to the council, U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk said Iranian security forces had used “live ammunition” against protesters, adding that “thousands” had been killed, including children.

“I call on the Iranian authorities to reconsider, step back and end their brutal repression, including summary trials and disproportionate sentences,” Turk said.