Iran dismisses UN rights report as politically-motivated

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Saturday dismissed the recent report by the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights situation in the country as "politically-motivated," Press TV reported.

The report has been compiled by the outgoing UN special rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed based on a political approach and in line with the goals of certain powers, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Saturday.

Such reports "will not only fail to improve the human rights in the world but will also have no result save undermining human rights promotion at an international level," Qasemi said.

In his latest report, Shaheed reiterated allegations of violation of human rights situation in Iran.

The Iranian spokesman added that basically the appointment of special rapporteur on human rights situation in Iran was "unjustifiable, meaningless and destructive" as the Islamic republic is committed to legal and religious principles as well as international obligations.

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

In his reports on Iran since his appointment in 2011, Shaheed pointed to a number of issues, including death sentences, discrimination against minorities and women, mistreatment of political prisoners, and restrictions on freedom of speech, as the examples of rights violation by the Islamic republic.

Iran rejected Shaheed's multiple reports on Iran as accusations which bore "certain professional flaws."

During his mission, Shaheed demanded to visit Iran to discover the realities of the human rights situation in the country, a request refused by Iran.

Last month, Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jahangir was appointed as the UN special rights rapporteur on Iran to replace Maldivian Ahmed Shaheed. Endit