IRAN SENDS HUMAN RIGHTS CRIMINAL TO UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

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othing should surprise anymore, when it comes to the creepy leadership of Iran. They've just sent an official implicated in the gruesome torture and killing of Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi, as their representative observer to the brand new, improved United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Saeed Mortazavi was the Tehran chief prosecutor responsible for Ms. Kazemi's illegal detention and the subsequent cover up of the brutal beating which killed her, according to a report from Iran's own Parliament. He is also reported to have personally taken part in the "interrogation."

Kofi Annan opened the inaugural sitting of the Council.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan opened the inaugural council session on Monday, urging the member states to mark a "clean break" from the practices of the now-disbanded Human Rights Commission, which had become infiltrated with human rights abuser states.

Well. It looks like not much has changed, eh? Iran is thumbing its nose, giving the finger, whatever you want to call complete mockery of the rest of the world -- but especially Canada, which continues to try to pursue justice for Zahra Kazemi's murder. Iran failed to be elected to the Council, but all states have the right to send observer delegations.

For years we've had egregiously human-rights abusing states sitting on the Human Rights Commission -- now with the new improved Council, we have a real, live human rights abuser sitting right there at the table alongside elected members like Saudi Arabia, China, Cuba etc. Mr. Annan thinks the old Commission was infiltrated by abuser states? Did he have his fingers crossed when he said "clean break"?

Iran's official news agency, IRNA, reported on Monday that Mr. Mortazavi wants the UN council to take a hard line on human-rights abuses by the United States and Israel. Among the other causes Mr. Mortazavi will defend are "the right to access high technologies, including nuclear technology for peaceful purposes" and freedom of expression for Holocaust deniers, IRNA reported.

Sounds like fun times ahead, with Mortazavi in the house. Back home he is apparently well known as the worst enemy of dissidents and journalists, enough to earn the nickname "butcher of the press." He is the lead prosecutor of the dissident figure Akbar Ganji, and is credited with closing more than 100 newspapers, as well as jailing pro-democracy students and clearing those officials accused of torturing them. A friend of Mr. Ganji, Mohsen Sazegara compared the case to Nazi Germany sending Adolph Eichman to a human rights meeting. "Most of the Iranians evaluate this as a show of power from Supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Khamenei is saying, 'Okay, I can arrest anyone I want and the world cannot do anything," he said. Another activist victim of Mortazavi, Amir Abbas Fakhravar arrived in the US recently after spending time in various Tehran prisons.

Mr. Fakhravar yesterday said Iran had "made a fool of the rest of the world" by sending Mr. Mortazavi to Geneva. He added, "If the world wants to show to Iran that they are genuinely committed to human rights they ought to arrest him at least for the murder of Zahra Kazemi."

The Swiss need to arrest this guy immediately. Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay says that the case they've compiled on Mortazavi's role in the murder of Zahra Kazemi has been shared with the Swiss government. That's a good first step, now let's see an arrest.

Wai to Regime Change Iran and Pajamas Media. More links at Hot Air.
- posted by Agam @ 6:00 PM 0 comments

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