Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., October 22, 2008 Tishrei 23, 5769 | | Israel Time: 06:29 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File
Last update - 05:02 21/10/2008
UN Chief urges Iran to combat discrimination against women, minorities
By Reuters
Tags: UN, domestic violence 

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday expressed concerns about possible human rights abuses in Iran and urged the country to do more to combat discrimination against women and minorities.

While praising Tehran for strides made in fields such as education and the provision of health services, Ban used a new report on human rights in Iran to list a number of areas where progress was needed.

According to the report, one of the main victims of discrimination in Iran is the Baha'I community. Baha'is regard their faith's 19th-century founder as the latest in a line of prophets including Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Jesus and Mohammed. Iran's Shi'ite religious establishment considers the faith a heretical offshoot of Islam.
Advertisement
Baha'is say hundreds of their followers have been jailed and executed since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution. Tehran denies it has detained or executed people on the basis of their religion.

The Baha'i faith originated in Iran and claims 5 million adherents worldwide, including 300,000 or more in Iran.

There have also been reports of "an increase in rights violations against women, university students, teachers, workers and other activist groups," Ban said in the report, which was issued to all 192 UN member states.

He also reiterated UN concerns about the death penalty, especially the execution of juveniles.

"There were at least some cases of stoning and public execution, despite moves by the authorities to curb such practices," Ban said.

"Cases of amputation and flogging and suspicious deaths and suicides of prisoners while in custody were also reported."

The Iranian constitution prohibits torture but the country's penal code lacks a clear definition of torture as a criminal offense, Ban said in his report.

Regarding the place of women in Iranian society, the report said criminal and civil laws contained "discriminatory provisions that are in urgent need of reform." Ban also said that gender-based violence was "widespread" in Iran.

"Concerns have been expressed over an increasing crackdown in the past year on the women's rights movement," he said. One problem is that Iranian authorities sometimes link women's rights activists to "external security threats."

A spokesman for the Iran's UN delegation did not respond to a request for comment.

Related articles:
  • Iranian groups to stage rally in N.Y. titled 'Ahmadinejad, why do you execute children?'
  • UN General Assembly chief: Some Security Council members worse than Iran
  • American talkshow host Larry King interviews Iranian President Ahmadinejad
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Saudi peace plan
    Barak says it may be time to pursue an overall peace deal for the region.
    Wiesel on Ahmadinejad
    Nobel laureate says president's UN speech shows world hasn't learned from Holocaust.
      1.   Iran Discrimination 04:12  |  Jasper 21/10/08
      2.   To all defenders of Human Rights : 08:03  |  Jean Van Daem 21/10/08
      3.   and i thought he was pragmatic realist ? 09:12  |  victor hardman 21/10/08
      4.   UN Chief urges Iran to combat discrimination against women 12:32  |  Al 21/10/08
      5.   Israel discrimination against Christian and 13:18  |  Dav 21/10/08
      6.   If the enemies of Iran would not use the ... 15:37  |  Edith 21/10/08
      7.   If individual Jews have the bad manners to spit at people 16:38  |  x-ray 21/10/08
      8.   Iran urges UN to fight discrimination against arabs in Israel 17:09  |  Aounist 21/10/08
      9.   Moslem in Israel 00:12  |  R 22/10/08
      10.   Finally. It is about time! 06:21  |  Yuri 22/10/08
     Read & React
    Israel mulling non-aggression treaty with Lebanon
    Responses: 367
    Akiva Eldar: We must be firm on dividing Jerusalem
    Responses: 97
    Kadima supporters' website brands Pope Benedict with swastika
    Responses: 75
    Saudi official presents new Israeli-Palestinian peace plan
    Responses: 181
    Bradley Burston: Daniel Pearl, Gilad Shalit, and the exercise of power
    Responses: 152


    More Headlines
    01:44 Top Tehran officials recommend preemptive strike against Israel
    01:55 ANALYSIS / Iran's threats are not based on any proven capability
    01:45 2 weeks after Jewish-Arab riots, Acre mayor vows 'no one will spoil our city'
    03:18 Peres to visit Egypt Thursday to revive Arab peace talks
    23:11 U.S. urges Arab states to forge diplomatic ties with Israel
    05:37 New U.S. equipment helping uncover Egypt-Gaza tunnels
    04:38 Instead of repenting, ultra-Orthodox politicians are busy committing sins
    02:27 Abbas dismisses Palestinian intelligence chief from post
    06:07 Policy shapers in no rush to nationalize Israeli banks
    03:55 Jerusalem mayoral hopeful Barkat backs new Jewish housing in Anata
    06:24 Police: Driver and passenger in fatal hit-and-run switched places after fleeing
    05:27 Underground cattle trade thrives in Gaza tunnels
    02:38 Date gone bad ends in woman's defenestration
    03:26 Death in the family sparks 'Big Brother' blackout
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Living in Israel Studying in English
    Click & Meet our students from all around the world
    Dial 013 for your long-distance calls
    and get all your money back
    US CITIZENS
    Vote for real change. Request your ballot today!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Israel's Premier Real Estate Website
    www. israel-property.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved