generalspeaking

Canada's Iran Relationship

Decidedly unwholesome, in a word. Which is to say in explanation that Canada holds Iran as an exemplar of the very worst of national governance. A state demonstrably given to iron-fisted rule, imprisoning, torturing and killing political dissenters. Where extra-judicial executions take place, free speech is routinely suppressed, basic human rights repressed, and those unwilling to submit to fanatical Islamism are persecuted, as are Baha'i, homosexuals, opponents of the ruling Ayatollahs.

Where arbitrary detention and sudden disappearances are the order of the day.

Canada is introducing yet another draft resolution in the United Nations, highlighting Iran's extensive array of human rights abuses. Despite the Islamist Republic of Iran's strident denials and strenuous attempts to back Canada into a corner through counter-accusations, Canada has managed successfully to lobby for support by other countries within the UN General Assembly to pass such resolutions in past years.

This year's resolution has been co-sponsored by Norway and Sweden, working closely with Canada on the file.

The text to be submitted to a general vote for condemnation of Iran reflects previous Canadian-led resolutions highlighting torture, flogging, amputations and stoning as "serious ongoing and recurring human-rights violations" which are regular proceedings within Iran. This has become Canada's very special and determined purpose within the United Nations; to hold Iran accountable to the general body for its ongoing human-rights infractions, which it commits with utter impunity.

The true absurdity of the United Nations' special rapporteurs on a whole host of human rights investigations is that time is spent needlessly, almost frivolously, with UN investigator involvement probing alleged abuses in developed countries, rather than focusing where they should; within those countries well recognized for their abysmal record of human rights abuses. Canada has also criticized the UN's human rights investigators for ignoring the need to expose abuses where they should.

The UN's housing rapporteur is now engaged in probing fairness in housing in the United States. Last week the UN's investigator on the plight of minorities visited Canada, ending up chastising Canada for purported misdeeds on engaging with minorities. The Canadian-led draft resolution exhorts as a first step that the UN's extra-judicial executions rapporteur investigate the situation in Iran. Second mentioned for attention is the special rapporteur on torture.

That same UN special rapporteur on torture was uncordially invited to leave Zimbabwe just as he was to begin the process of investigating attacks on Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's supporters by President Robert Mugabe's thugs. Iran, like Zimbabwe, will not willingly permit any of the UN's rapporteurs entrance to the country to investigate human rights abuses casually practised there. Unlike Western countries which lend themselves to the investigative process.

Canada's outlining in the draft resolution of Iran where there exists a "persistent failure to uphold due process of law rights, and violations of rights of detainees, including defendants held without charge or incommunicado, the systematic and arbitrary use of prolonged solitary confinement, and lack of timely access to legal representation", highlights the dire need of Iranians to experience a sea-change in their country's administration of justice.

Labels: Conflict, Government of Canada, Middle East, United Nations

posted by Pieface @ Friday, October 30, 2009