UN Rights Report "Politically-Motivated"

Iran's Foreign Ministry dismissed a recent report by the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic.

"The report compiled by the special rapporteur [Ahmed Shaheed] on the basis of a resolution [which is] based on a political approach and in line with the goals of certain countries' foreign policies will not only fail to improve human rights in the world but will also have no result but the undermining of human rights promotion at the international level," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Saturday, Press TV reported.

In his report presented to the 71st session of the UN General Assembly on September 30, Shaheed leveled unfounded human rights allegations against Iran. Qasemi said the report was based on a political and selective approach, particularly at a time when the international community is witnessing blatant violations of human rights by some countries and terrorist groups supported by them in Yemen and Syria.

He said the appointment of special rapporteur on human rights situation in Iran was "unjustifiable, meaningless and destructive", as the country is committed to legal and religious principles, as well as international obligations.

"Shaheed has sought to portray a tarnished image of the human rights conditions in the Islamic Republic," Qasemi said, stressing that he has failed to pursue "professional, fair, non-political and non-discriminatory" approaches in compiling his report.

The spokesperson once again reiterated the country's determination to cooperate with international bodies in a constructive way.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that promotion of human rights is an important issue for all members of the international community, which will materialize only through cooperation and dialogue as well as an equal and non-selective behavior," he said.

"The Islamic Republic has had constructive cooperation with international human rights institutions and some countries within the framework of bilateral talks on human rights."