Tehran slams UN fact-finding mission on Iran as 'politicized'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
5 Jul 2023 18:45

Iran's human rights envoy to the UN says those who supported riots in Iran have deliberately turned a blind eye to the use of excessive force in the protests in France.

Protesters in France calling for justice for 17 year-old teenager Nahel Merzouk who was killed by French police (AFP)

Iran slammed the founding of the Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic that was established last year as "an entirely politically motivated and unacceptable move."

The head of Iran's High Council for Human Rights Kazem Gharibabadi said during the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council that the same countries that incited the recent riots in Iran, as well as other places, are the founders of this mechanism.

"More than 75 law enforcement forces and people were martyred by the rioters, and over 7,000 law enforcement forces were also injured," he said.

"The policy of Iran vis-a-vis the riots was to use the minimal legal powers."

Gharibabadi called out the UN for turning a blind eye to the demonstrations taking place in France that is "witnessing the use of excessive force against peaceful protesters, widespread arbitrary arrests, and restrictions on the internet and social media."

"It would be prudent for the Human Rights Council to convene a special session to examine the situation in France," he said, stressing that parties that claim to support human rights are intentionally silent on the events taking place in the European country.

France has been witnessing nationwide angry protests for over a week following the police killing of a 17-year-old of Algerian and Moroccan descent.

The teenager, known as Nahel Merzouk, was fatally shot by police on June 27 in the western Parisian suburb of Nanterre. Hundreds of people have been arrested in France amid raging protests.

The Iranian diplomated added that French law enforcement resorted to policing techniques similar to those of the child-killing Israeli occupation entity, IRNA reported.

Gharibabadi also stressed that the unilateral and aggressive sanctions on the Islamic Republic, which have caused suffering and pain to the country's women and children, are crimes against humanity.

Iran urged its citizens last week to avoid traveling to France due to the country's current situation.