UN Rights Chief Warns Iran not to Use Violence

19 June 2009 :: staff

Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned Iran that illegal violence by militia groups could sow unrest. Pillay called for the regime to exercise restraint and cease its attacks on demonstrators and organizers. With the legal basis for recent arrests “not clear”, Pillay called on Iran to explain “Why have some of those who have been arrested been denied access to lawyers and members of their families? And why is the whereabouts of others unknown?”

Frank La Rue, special rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, reiterated Pillay’s concerns, saying: ”We are gravely concerned that the recent arrests and use of excessive police force against opposition supporters may be a direct attempt to stifle freedom of assembly and expression in the country.”

Pillay had the support of five UN experts on freedom of opinion, human rights campaigners, arbitrary detention, arbitrary executions and torture, who voiced concern the security forces’ crackdown could undermine Iran’s political structure and human rights. She has called on Iran’s government to respect all of the rights of its people and to engage in credible due process in order to determine whether there was wrondoing in the management of the election.

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She warned that attacks against civilians would inflame “feelings of injustice” and cautioned the leadership not to “provoke a serious deterioration in the security situation”. The UN Rights chief directly admonished the leadership of the government to rein in security forces, reminding them “It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that militia members and regular law enforcement agencies do not resort to illegal acts of violence”.

Pillay also went as far as to praise the “peaceful and dignified conduct of the huge demonstrations that have been taking place”. Maintaining a defense of constitutional and universal rights, while refraining from violence, lends credibility and weight to the opposition, was the clear indication. Iranian Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi said she had urged Pillay to speak out, as the government’s response had been “very violent”.

The comments come as supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamene’i has made a public appeal for calm, and made comments suggesting he does not intend to accept the validity of claims of electoral fraud. Unconfirmed reports say Khamene’i has given Mousavi an ultimatum to either accept the victory of Ahmedinejad or go into exile. As reports mount of students and activists detained, beaten and/or held in undisclosed locations, fears are spreading of a possible military crackdown.

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