Iran: Appointment of UN Human Rights Envoy unacceptable

Appointment of the UN Human Rights Envoy for Iran is unacceptable, Iranian Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast said, Mehr News Agency reported on Tuesday.

"Decision to appoint an envoy for human rights issues in Iran was made under pressure of the United State and West countries," said Mehmanparast at his weekly press conference. "This appointment is politically motivated and unacceptable."

A former foreign minister of the Maldives, Ahmed Shaheed, was named United Nations human rights investigator on Iran on June 18, the first in nearly a decade.

The U.N. Human Rights Council established the independent post of special rapporteur on human rights in Iran on March 24, a move spearheaded by Washington that will subject Tehran's record to scrutiny.

The 47-member forum has voiced concern at Iran's crackdown on opposition figures and increased use of the death penalty and called on the Islamic Republic to cooperate with its new envoy.

Shaheed's appointment was announced by the council's spokesman Cedric Sapey at the end of a three-week session.


/Trend/