ECLJ to United Nations: Hold Iran Accountable for Human Rights Violations

"It is clear that the Iranian government and its president have no respect for the human rights of its citizens." - Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ACLJ

STRASBOURG, France, Sept. 21, 2009—The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), the international affiliate of the American Center for Law and Justice, announced today it has filed a petition with the United Nations Special Rapporteurs urging the U.N. to take action to hold Iran accountable for deadly violence in the wake of the controversial re-election of Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.  The petition is highly critical of what the ECLJ calls Iran's "massive, brutal campaign to quash political discourse" and comes just days before the Iranian President is scheduled to appear at the U.N.

"Iran continues to show a flagrant disregard for the rule of law and continues to violate the most basic human rights of its citizens," said Jay Sekulow, chief counsel of the ECLJ and the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).  "In addition to the violence and crackdown on its citizens, we're also deeply concerned by the unlawful prosecution by the Iranian government of its citizens in connection with the recent election.  It's time that Iran is held accountable for its serious and repeated violations of human rights and international law."

In its petition, the ECLJ specifically cites Iran's violations of the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.  It contends that Iran "must be held accountable" for violations of international law including violating citizens' freedom of expression, association, assembly, and participation in public affairs.  Specifically, the ECLJ is asking the U.N to accomplish the following:

"We urge you to support measures designed to pressure the Iranian regime to (1) enforce the rule of law within Iran's borders to prosecute those responsible for the rape and other indignities, (2) ensure a impartial judiciary, (3) stop persecution on the basis of viewpoint, peaceful demonstration, opinion, expression, and association, (4) release all prisoners who are not charged, (5) allow human rights groups, NFOs and lawyers access to the Court, and consultations with government officials from the Prosecutor office, (6) allow foreign and domestic press into Iran to cover the political events and criminal trials, (7) allow U.N. observers into the prisons to investigate abuse allegations, and (8) discuss the Iranian situation with Mahmoud Ahmadinajad during his upcoming visit to the U.N." 

Read the full ECLJ petition filed at the U.N. here.

The European Centre for Law and Justice is an international law firm focusing on the protection of human rights and religious freedom in Europe and around the world.  The ECLJ is affiliated with the American Center for Law and Justice, the nation's leading conservative public interest law firm. Attorneys for the ECLJ have served as counsel in numerous cases before the European Court of Human Rights.  Additionally, the ECLJ has special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the United Nations, and is accredited to the European Parliament.

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