TEHRAN, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Thursday dismissed a recent UN report on its human rights situation, saying the report was "unacceptable and politically-motivated."
Iran's foreign ministry said the recent report by UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon" lacks credibility and legality, because it used "undocumented and illegal accusations" against Iran. "Parts of the released report indicates that the UN chief has not been impartial, hence tampered."

The ministry said it expects the UN chief to "act fairly" and in line with the UN's mechanisms when reviewing human rights situation in Iran. It also called on the UN to avoid interfering in Iran's internal affairs.

On Wednesday, Ban criticized Iranian President Hassan Rouhani for not doing enough to improve the human rights situation in Iran since he took office last August.

Increased death sentences, arbitrary detention, unfair trials, discrimination against minorities and women, mistreatment of political prisoners, and restrictions on freedom of speech are examples of rights violation by the Islamic republic, Ban said in his report.

He also called for "immediate release" of two reformist opposition leaders, Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi, demanding their "urgent access to medical care."

Mousavi and Karoubi have been under house arrest after the 2009 presidential elections. They used to lead massive rallies protesting what they called "fraud" in favor of hardline candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Some Iranian hardline officials, including Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, have reacted angrily to Ban's report, reiterating that it is an interference in Iran's internal affairs.

Larijani dismissed the "claims" concerning pressures on political prisoners and minorities in Iran as "part of the enemies ' campaign of lies against the Islamic republic."

In addition, the foreign ministry also criticized EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton for meeting with a number of Iranian female rights activists in her recent visit to Tehran.

"Ashton's selective approach toward human rights issues in Iran will only deepen the Iranian nation's distrust of the West," local media said. "Such moves will deepen our people's suspicion of the West and are not helpful to the relations between Iran and the European Union.".

The ministry said contacting civil society is recognized as long as it does not interfere in the countries' internal affairs and respects local customs and values. It said Ashton's meeting with the dissident Iranian females, which took place without prior coordination with the ministry, is rooted in the Western double- standards.

The ministry has sent an official protest note to the Austrian embassy in Tehran, which reportedly organized Ashton's meetings.

On Wednesday Tehran's university students also held a rally in front of the embassy to protest against the meetings.

By Xinhua

 

The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.