International Criticism of the Iranian human rights record
On 13 October 2005, the Members of the European Parliament voted to adopt a resolution condemning Iran's
continued disregard of the human rights of its citizens with a vote of 49 against 43, with 89 abstentions. On 22
December, Hamid Reza Assefi, from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that Iran would
suspend dialogue with the European Union concerning the ongoing question of human rights in the country.
In a National Post article dated Thursday, November 2, 2006 Iran was listed among the 13 worst abusers of
Human rights in the world by the Canadian Government. Canada has brought this to the United Nations
Human rights council, a body which the country firmly rejects Iran's participation on given its horrendous
human rights record. This related to the torture and death of Canada-based Iranian photo journalist Zahra
Kazemi, by an Iranian prosecutor, who became a high ranking member of the government of Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad. Iran was not pleased with this assessment, despite its factual accuracy.
Iran has been criticized by the United Nations Human Rights Council many times. After the death of Zahra
Kazemi, Canada has sponsored a resolution criticizing Iran's "confirmed instances of torture, stoning as a
method of execution and punishment such as flogging and amputations." The resolution has passed in the
UN General Assembly every year since 2007, and is expected to pass once again in 2008 when it comes to a
vote in December. source: wikipedia
On 13 October 2005, the Members of the European Parliament voted to adopt a resolution condemning Iran's
continued disregard of the human rights of its citizens with a vote of 49 against 43, with 89 abstentions. On 22
December, Hamid Reza Assefi, from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced that Iran would
suspend dialogue with the European Union concerning the ongoing question of human rights in the country.
In a National Post article dated Thursday, November 2, 2006 Iran was listed among the 13 worst abusers of
Human rights in the world by the Canadian Government. Canada has brought this to the United Nations
Human rights council, a body which the country firmly rejects Iran's participation on given its horrendous
human rights record. This related to the torture and death of Canada-based Iranian photo journalist Zahra
Kazemi, by an Iranian prosecutor, who became a high ranking member of the government of Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad. Iran was not pleased with this assessment, despite its factual accuracy.
Iran has been criticized by the United Nations Human Rights Council many times. After the death of Zahra
Kazemi, Canada has sponsored a resolution criticizing Iran's "confirmed instances of torture, stoning as a
method of execution and punishment such as flogging and amputations." The resolution has passed in the
UN General Assembly every year since 2007, and is expected to pass once again in 2008 when it comes to a
vote in December. source: wikipedia
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Iran is the only country in the world that 'officially' executes children. According to the United Nations, a child is a person under the age of 18. Despite the fact that Iran has signed International Covenants that forbid them to execute anyone who has allegedly committed an offence before the age of 18, they continue to do so. Since 1990, Amnesty International has recorded 30 executions of child offenders and over the last couple of years the rate is increasing. Currently, there are at least 86 minors on death row in Iran. Time is of the essence. Together we will make them STOP the execution of minors!
Sign the petition at www.stopchildexecutions.com to help to save their lives.
Nazanin Afshin-Jam greets I.R.I President Ahmadinejad's UN visit with "Wall of Shame"
by: Amir Nadimi
International Human Rights crusader and celebrated Canadian-Iranian beauty Nazanin Afshin-Jam
strikes her boldest move ever by taking her struggle right to the lion's mouth. I.R. President Ahmadinejad's
anticipated speech at the U.N. this past Tuesday was met with a "Wall of Shame". Organized by
Afshin-Jam and other supporters demanding accountability for the numerous human rights violations
committed and still being exercised by Iran's theocratic regime.
Afshin-Jam's resilience in promoting human rights worldwide and exposing injustice especially the
execution of minors by the brutal theocratic regime in her native Iran marked a significant milestone this
past 24 hours. In a bold and unprecedented move, Nazanin and various local NY interest groups and
supporters worldwide displayed a "Wall of Shame" of the countless victims who have been murdered and
executed by the fundamentalist Iranian regime. "The point of the protest was not to prevent Pres.
Ahmadinejad from speaking, but rather holding him accountable for these crimes and bringing it to the
greater attention of Iranian exiles and other immigrants who may have forgotten the suffering of their
brothers and sisters on the other side of the world" remarked supporter JJ Jonroy.
strikes her boldest move ever by taking her struggle right to the lion's mouth. I.R. President Ahmadinejad's
anticipated speech at the U.N. this past Tuesday was met with a "Wall of Shame". Organized by
Afshin-Jam and other supporters demanding accountability for the numerous human rights violations
committed and still being exercised by Iran's theocratic regime.
Afshin-Jam's resilience in promoting human rights worldwide and exposing injustice especially the
execution of minors by the brutal theocratic regime in her native Iran marked a significant milestone this
past 24 hours. In a bold and unprecedented move, Nazanin and various local NY interest groups and
supporters worldwide displayed a "Wall of Shame" of the countless victims who have been murdered and
executed by the fundamentalist Iranian regime. "The point of the protest was not to prevent Pres.
Ahmadinejad from speaking, but rather holding him accountable for these crimes and bringing it to the
greater attention of Iranian exiles and other immigrants who may have forgotten the suffering of their
brothers and sisters on the other side of the world" remarked supporter JJ Jonroy.
photo courtesy: JJ Jonroy
| photo courtesy: JJ Jonroy |
| Video of Nazanin at the Wall of Shame United Nations, NYC, Sept. 23, 2008 |
Walking the Walk
Unlike preceding Beauty pageant winners throughout time who have risen to the podium
promising and wishing for world peace and the end of suffering, Nazanin lives it. Nazanin
breathes it. Almost 5 years since her Miss Canada crown propelled her to first runner-up
in the Miss World competition, she has stood unmatched in first place for the cause of
children's rights and women's rights the world over. The Vancouver native has spent most
of the past few years not only developing her musical career but tirelessly giving
interviews, lectures, chairing conferences and raising awareness for her personal
campaign to end CHILD EXECUTIONS. http://www.stopchildexecutions.com . Her 2006
campaign to save Nazanin Fatehi (her namesake) was successful and publicized
worldwide. Over 300 000 globally collected signatures and recognition of this case by the
Canadian Federal government forced the hand of Iran's regime to take notice and provide
Nazanin Fatehi with proper legal counsel and a hope at survival. She lived to tell. A couple
of juvenile boys accused of homosexuality despite their accusers retracting original
statements were not only charged but their executions were carried out since then. The
battle against the execution of children is at the forefront of Afshin-Jam's various causes.
Unlike preceding Beauty pageant winners throughout time who have risen to the podium
promising and wishing for world peace and the end of suffering, Nazanin lives it. Nazanin
breathes it. Almost 5 years since her Miss Canada crown propelled her to first runner-up
in the Miss World competition, she has stood unmatched in first place for the cause of
children's rights and women's rights the world over. The Vancouver native has spent most
of the past few years not only developing her musical career but tirelessly giving
interviews, lectures, chairing conferences and raising awareness for her personal
campaign to end CHILD EXECUTIONS. http://www.stopchildexecutions.com . Her 2006
campaign to save Nazanin Fatehi (her namesake) was successful and publicized
worldwide. Over 300 000 globally collected signatures and recognition of this case by the
Canadian Federal government forced the hand of Iran's regime to take notice and provide
Nazanin Fatehi with proper legal counsel and a hope at survival. She lived to tell. A couple
of juvenile boys accused of homosexuality despite their accusers retracting original
statements were not only charged but their executions were carried out since then. The
battle against the execution of children is at the forefront of Afshin-Jam's various causes.
Iran's shameful human Rights record also extends to its Kurdish Minority:
An estimated 12 million Kurds live in Iran, between 15-17 per cent of the population. They live mainly in the provinces of West Azerbaijan,
Kordestan, Kermanshah and Ilam in the west and south-west of the country, although many have moved to the big cities such as Tehran.
Sanandaj is the administrative centre of Kordestan. There is also a community of Kurds in North Khorasan province in north-eastern Iran.
Kurds in Iran have long suffered deep-rooted discrimination. Their social, political and cultural rights have been repressed, as have their
economic aspirations. Kurdish regions have been economically neglected, resulting in entrenched poverty. Forced evictions and destruction of
homes have left Kurds with restricted access to adequate housing. Parents are banned from registering their babies with certain Kurdish
names. The use of the Kurdish language in education is frequently thwarted. Religious minorities that are mainly or partially Kurdish are
targeted by measures designed to stigmatize and isolate them. The discriminatory gozinesh system -- a selection procedure that requires
prospective state officials and employees to demonstrate allegiance to Islam and the Islamic Republic of Iran -- denies Kurds equality in
employment and political participation. source: http://www.amnestyusa.org
An estimated 12 million Kurds live in Iran, between 15-17 per cent of the population. They live mainly in the provinces of West Azerbaijan,
Kordestan, Kermanshah and Ilam in the west and south-west of the country, although many have moved to the big cities such as Tehran.
Sanandaj is the administrative centre of Kordestan. There is also a community of Kurds in North Khorasan province in north-eastern Iran.
Kurds in Iran have long suffered deep-rooted discrimination. Their social, political and cultural rights have been repressed, as have their
economic aspirations. Kurdish regions have been economically neglected, resulting in entrenched poverty. Forced evictions and destruction of
homes have left Kurds with restricted access to adequate housing. Parents are banned from registering their babies with certain Kurdish
names. The use of the Kurdish language in education is frequently thwarted. Religious minorities that are mainly or partially Kurdish are
targeted by measures designed to stigmatize and isolate them. The discriminatory gozinesh system -- a selection procedure that requires
prospective state officials and employees to demonstrate allegiance to Islam and the Islamic Republic of Iran -- denies Kurds equality in
employment and political participation. source: http://www.amnestyusa.org
Awareness, Awareness, Awareness
While many immigrants who left Iran over the course of the
last 30 years have slowly sunk into their regular life routines,
we often forget how much suffering still exists within our
mother country's borders. The numbing Iranian satellite TV
rants about regime change and endless political banter is not
only unproductive but perhaps reflective of our overrall apathy
about critically tackling these causes.
Confronting this issue becomes the real threat to Iran's
theocratic regime and forcing them to critically look at how it is
perceived in the World Arena. How could we have allowed
Iran, our IRAN to have become the most notorios if not the only
country in the world that executes children while we wallow in
silence ?
By delaying the sentencing and actual carried out executions,
as Afshin-Jam says "Iran deliberately bastardizes the same
international covenant it has signed on to, by carrying out the
execution often when the alleged become of legal age."
While many immigrants who left Iran over the course of the
last 30 years have slowly sunk into their regular life routines,
we often forget how much suffering still exists within our
mother country's borders. The numbing Iranian satellite TV
rants about regime change and endless political banter is not
only unproductive but perhaps reflective of our overrall apathy
about critically tackling these causes.
Confronting this issue becomes the real threat to Iran's
theocratic regime and forcing them to critically look at how it is
perceived in the World Arena. How could we have allowed
Iran, our IRAN to have become the most notorios if not the only
country in the world that executes children while we wallow in
silence ?
By delaying the sentencing and actual carried out executions,
as Afshin-Jam says "Iran deliberately bastardizes the same
international covenant it has signed on to, by carrying out the
execution often when the alleged become of legal age."