Iran to UN rights chief: Shaheed’s reports are biased

TEHRAN,July 6(MNA) - Mohammad Javad Larijani, the secretary general of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights, has written a letter to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay voicing complaints over Ahmed Shaheed’s biased reports against Iran. Ahmed Shaheed is the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran. Following the unprofessional and biased moves by Shaheed, Larijani said this procedure is against international law and called for a review of this counterproductive procedure. In his report on March 17, Shaheed accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of various instances of human rights violations, claiming that “deep reforms are needed to respond to human rights concerns” in the country. In his letter, Larijani noted that Shaheed has taken a path which is contrary to his responsibilities as an independent, professional and impartial rapporteur. Conducting interviews and issuing statements which are politically motivated are contrary to special rapporteurs’ responsibilities, the Iranian human rights chief said. Shaheed is not aware of the intricacies of Iran’s judicial and legal institutions and therefore his reports and remarks are unfair and biased, Larijani wrote in his letter. Special rapporteurs should report facts obtained by reliable sources, but unfortunately Shaheed relies on websites and sources which are run by the opponents of the Islamic Republic, the letter said. It is stated in the letter that the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran only focuses on supporting criminals and does not pay attention to those who are real victims of human rights violation.