Iran on Thursday accused the United States of orchestrating its removal from a UN women’s rights body over its response to protests triggered by death of Mahsa Amini. This represents heightened tensions between the USA vs Iran.
The Islamic republic has seen waves of protests since the September 16 death in custody of Amini, a young Iranian Kurd who had been arrested for allegedly violating the country’s dress code for women.
Hundreds of people have been killed and thousands arrested in the street violence, leading to international condemnation and Iran’s removal Wednesday from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW).
Iran pointed the finger of blame at the USA, saying the move was a result of its arch-foe’s concerted efforts and that it lacked “legal justification.”
“This one-sided action of the US… is an attempt to impose unilateral political demands and ignore electoral procedures in international institutions,” foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said.
“Removing a legal member of the commission is a political heresy which discredits this international organization and also creates a unilateral procedure for future abuses of international institutions,” he added.
Iran, which was elected to the body in April for a four-year term, was stripped of its membership with immediate effect.
A simple majority was needed to adopt the move, which was approved after 29 members of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) voted in favor, eight countries including Russia and China voted against and 16 abstained.
The text of the UN resolution said the Iranian authorities “continuously undermine and increasingly suppress the human rights of women and girls, including the right to freedom of expression and opinion, often with the use of excessive force.”
Last month, Iran filed a complaint with the world football body Fifa after the United States football organisation altered the design of its flag in some posts on social media following the Iran vs USA football match.
Image Credit: United Nations Photo
