UNITED
NATIONS
____________________________________________________________________________
Economic and Social
Council
Distr.
GENERAL
A/RES/52/142
6
March 1998
______________________________________________________________________________
Fifty-second
session
Agenda item 112 (c)
RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
[on the
report of the Third Committee (A/52/644/Add.3)]
52/142. Situation of human rights in the Islamic
Republic of Iran
The General Assembly,
Reaffirming that all States Members of the United Nations
have an obligation to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms,
as stated in the Charter of the United Nations and as elaborated in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Resolution 217 A (III). the International Covenants on Human Rights Resolution 2200
A (XXI), annex. and other applicable human rights instruments,
Mindful that the Islamic Republic of Iran is a party
to the International Covenants on Human Rights,
Recalling previous resolutions of the General Assembly
and the Commission on Human Rights on the subject, and taking note of the most
recent, Commission on Human Rights resolution 1997/54 of 15 April 1997, See Official
Records of the Economic and Social Council, 1997, Supplement No. 3
(E/1997/23), chap. II, sect. A.
1. Welcomes the report of the
Special Representative of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of
human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran; A/52/472, annex.
2. Notes with interest that
presidential elections were held in the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1997, and
calls upon the Government to meet expectations for tangible progress concerning
human rights and fundamental freedoms of all individuals;
3. Expresses its concern:
(a) At the continuing violations
of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, in particular the large and
increasing number of executions in the apparent absence of respect for
internationally recognized safeguards, cases of torture and cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment, including stoning, amputation and public
executions, the failure to meet international standards in the administration
of justice and the absence of due process of law;
(b) At the grave breaches of the
human rights of the Baha'is, the discrimination against members of other
religious minorities, including Christians, and the death sentences pronounced
against Dhabihullah Mahrami,
Musa Talibi and Ramadan-Ali
Dhulfaqari, on the charge of apostasy, and against Bihnam Mithaqi and Kayvan Khalajabadi because of
their beliefs;
(c) At the lack of continuity in
the cooperation of the Government with the mechanisms of the Commission on
Human Rights;
(d) At the continuing threats to
the life of Salman Rushdie, as well as to individuals
associated with his work, which appear to have the support of the Government of
the Islamic Republic of Iran, and deeply regrets the increase announced in the
bounty offered for the assassination of Mr. Rushdie by the 15 Khordad Foundation;
(e) At violations of the right to
peaceful assembly and restrictions on the freedoms of expression, thought,
opinion and the press, as well as at the harassment and intimidation of writers
and journalists seeking to exercise their freedom of expression, the sentencing
of the writer Faraj Sarkuhi
being only the most recent example of such unacceptable practices;
(f) At the lack of full and equal
enjoyment by women of human rights, while noting efforts to integrate women
more fully into the political, economic and cultural life of the country;
4. Calls upon the Government of
the Islamic Republic of Iran:
(a) To resume its cooperation with
the mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, in particular with the
Special Representative to allow him to continue his inquiry at first hand and
to continue his dialogue with the Government;
(b) To abide by its freely
undertaken obligations under the International Covenants on Human Rights and
under other international instruments on human rights and to ensure that all
individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction, including
members of religious groups and persons belonging to minorities, enjoy all the
rights enshrined in those instruments;
(c) To implement fully the
conclusions and recommendations of the Special Rapporteur
of the Commission on Human Rights on the elimination of all forms of religious
intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief relating to the
Baha'is and to other minority religious groups, including Christians, until
they are completely emancipated; E/CN.4/1996/95/Add.2.
(d) To take effective measures to
eliminate human rights violations against women, including all discrimination
in law and in practice against them;
(e) To refrain from violence
against members of the Iranian opposition living abroad and to cooperate
wholeheartedly with the authorities of other countries in investigating and
prosecuting offences reported by them;
(f) To provide satisfactory
written assurances that it does not support or incite threats to the life of
Mr. Rushdie;
(g) To ensure that capital
punishment will not be imposed for apostasy or non-violent crimes or in
disregard of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights2 and United Nations safeguards;
5. Decides to continue the
examination of the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran,
including the situation of minority groups such as the Baha'is, at its
fifty-third session under the item entitled "Human rights questions",
in the light of additional elements provided by the Commission on Human Rights.
70th plenary meeting
12
December 1997
