Norway endorses strong criticism of Iran in the Human Rights Council

In the UN Human Rights Council today, Norway criticised the human rights situation in Iran on behalf of more than 50 countries. The joint statement was timed to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the controversial presidential election in Iran.

“This sends a clear and unequivocal message to the Iranian authorities that the human rights situation in the country is unacceptable and must be improved. It also sends a clear and powerful message to the people of Iran that the international community is watching the situation and responding to the many abuses of human rights,” Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre commented.

“I am pleased that we have managed to agree on such a strong statement in the Human Rights Council, in close cooperation with, among others, Chile, the EU and the US. It will not have escaped Teheran’s notice that more than 50 countries from many regions support the statement,” Mr Støre said.

The statement was delivered by Norway’s ambassador in Geneva, Bente Angell-Hansen.

In particular, the statement emphasises the violent suppression of dissent, detentions and executions following the demonstrations after the election a year ago, and calls for an independent investigation of the authorities’ handling of the situation. The statement also highlights the severe restrictions on freedom of expression and freedom of association, as well as the discrimination against women and religious minorities.

Today Norway also aligned itself with an EU declaration on the human rights situation in Iran.