Lankan Ranger
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US contradicts Iran's stand on unrest in Libya
Amid pro-democracy uprising in several countries of the Middle East, US has slammed Iran for its recent crack down on protesters inside the country, even as Tehran called on Libya to stop atrocities that are being perpetrated against the Libyan people.
"Iran, for example, has consistently pursued policies of violence abroad and tyranny at home", Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday.
"In Tehran, security forces have beaten, detained, and in several recent cases killed peaceful protesters even as Iran's president has made a show of denouncing the violence in Libya," she said contradicting Iran's stated condemnation of violence in Libya and its ongoing crackdown on dissent at home.
Last week, the Human Rights Council decided to suspend Libya's membership from the 47-nation body. This decision needs to be approved by two-thirds of the 192-member General Assembly.
Clinton stressed that Iran should be treated the same way as Libya by the Council.
"Indeed, every member of this Council should ask him or herself a simple question: Why do people have the right to live free from fear in Tripoli but not Tehran?" Clinton said.
"The denial of human dignity in Iran is an outrage that deserves the condemnation of all who speak out for freedom and justice," she added.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has continued to ruffle US feathers since he took power in 2005.
Speaking at the annual debate of the General Assembly, last year, Ahmadinejad had said that most people believed the US government was behind the 9/11 attacks.
Following reports of 66 people being executed in January, the UN expressed alarm in February at the frequency of the death penalty being doled out in Iran.
"We have urged Iran, time and again, to halt executions," said Navi Pillay, UN human rights chief. "I am very dismayed that instead of heeding our calls, the Iranian authorities appear to have stepped up the use of the death penalty."
Noting that US had imposed new sanctions on Iranian officials for serious human rights abuses, Clinton said Washington was working with Sweden to establish a special rapporteur on Iran to investigate abuses inside the country.
"Iranian human rights advocates have demanded this step to raise international pressure on their government," Clinton said.
"Iranian authorities have targeted human rights defenders and political activists, ex-government officials and their families, clerics and their children, student leaders and their professors, as well as journalists and bloggers," she added.
US contradicts Iran's stand on unrest in Libya
Amid pro-democracy uprising in several countries of the Middle East, US has slammed Iran for its recent crack down on protesters inside the country, even as Tehran called on Libya to stop atrocities that are being perpetrated against the Libyan people.
"Iran, for example, has consistently pursued policies of violence abroad and tyranny at home", Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva yesterday.
"In Tehran, security forces have beaten, detained, and in several recent cases killed peaceful protesters even as Iran's president has made a show of denouncing the violence in Libya," she said contradicting Iran's stated condemnation of violence in Libya and its ongoing crackdown on dissent at home.
Last week, the Human Rights Council decided to suspend Libya's membership from the 47-nation body. This decision needs to be approved by two-thirds of the 192-member General Assembly.
Clinton stressed that Iran should be treated the same way as Libya by the Council.
"Indeed, every member of this Council should ask him or herself a simple question: Why do people have the right to live free from fear in Tripoli but not Tehran?" Clinton said.
"The denial of human dignity in Iran is an outrage that deserves the condemnation of all who speak out for freedom and justice," she added.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has continued to ruffle US feathers since he took power in 2005.
Speaking at the annual debate of the General Assembly, last year, Ahmadinejad had said that most people believed the US government was behind the 9/11 attacks.
Following reports of 66 people being executed in January, the UN expressed alarm in February at the frequency of the death penalty being doled out in Iran.
"We have urged Iran, time and again, to halt executions," said Navi Pillay, UN human rights chief. "I am very dismayed that instead of heeding our calls, the Iranian authorities appear to have stepped up the use of the death penalty."
Noting that US had imposed new sanctions on Iranian officials for serious human rights abuses, Clinton said Washington was working with Sweden to establish a special rapporteur on Iran to investigate abuses inside the country.
"Iranian human rights advocates have demanded this step to raise international pressure on their government," Clinton said.
"Iranian authorities have targeted human rights defenders and political activists, ex-government officials and their families, clerics and their children, student leaders and their professors, as well as journalists and bloggers," she added.
US contradicts Iran's stand on unrest in Libya
