DATE=4/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247559
TITLE=U-N RIGHTS IRAN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR SAYS THE IRANIAN
GOVERNMENT IS MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD BUILDING WHAT HE CALLS A
"MORE TOLERANT SOCIETY." BUT, HE SAYS, IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME
BEFORE ANYTHING RESEMBLING A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY EMERGES. LISA
SCHLEIN IN GENEVA SAYS THE INVESTIGATOR'S REPORT HAS BEEN
SUBMITTED TO THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
TEXT: THE U-N INVESTIGATOR, CANADIAN LAWYER MAURICE COPITHORNE,
SAYS IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI IS TRYING TO CREATE A
MORE TOLERANT SOCIETY BASED ON THE RULE OF LAW AND RECOGNITION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS. BUT, HE SAYS PROGRESS IS FRUSTRATINGLY SLOW
BECAUSE PRESIDENT KHATAMI IS MEETING STIFF RESISTANCE FROM
GOVERNMENT HARDLINERS.
///COPITHORNE ACT///
THIS PASSAGE TO THIS OBJECTIVE IS BEING A DIFFICULT ONE.
IT'S UNDERWAY, IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS. AND, IT WILL BY
ALL APPEARANCES TAKE SOME YEARS BEFORE EVEN THE MINIMUM
OBJECTIVES THAT THE PRESIDENT (KHATAMI) HAS SET ARE
ACHIEVED IN A QUANTIFIABLE SENSE.
///END ACT///
THE U-N INVESTIGATOR SAYS IRAN IS MAKING SOME PROGRESS IN THE
AREA OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. HE NOTES DEMOCRACY IS APPEARING,
ESPECIALLY IN LOCAL ELECTIONS, WHERE WOMEN HAVE RECENTLY RUN AND
WERE ELECTED TO OFFICE. ALTHOUGH THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION, HE SAYS WOMEN HAVE A VERY LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE THEY
ACHIEVE FULL EQUALITY WITH MEN.
THE U-N INVESTIGATOR SAYS HE KEEPS RECEIVING REPORTS OF TORTURE,
DISAPPEARANCES AND OF SUSPICIOUS DEATHS OF IRANIAN DISSIDENTS
LIVING ABROAD.
MR. COPITHORNE IS CALLING ON IRAN'S GOVERNMENT TO BRING TO TRIAL
THOSE ACCUSED OF MURDERING SECULAR DISSIDENTS AND INTELLECTUALS
IN IRAN BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER. HE SAYS TIME IS RUNNING
OUT.
///SECOND COPITHORNE ACT///
THERE ARE RUMORS ABOUT THE COUNTRY THAT SOME OF THE
ACCUSED HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY SO THAT
THEY WOULD ESCAPE TRIAL, ETC., ETC. AND, THAT THE WAY
TO PUT THESE TO REST IS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO MOVE
FORWARD QUICKLY AND CLEARLY AND DEFINITIVELY ON ITS
COMMITMENT.
///END ACT///
MR. COPITHORNE SAYS ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES CONTINUE TO
BE OPPRESSED IN IRAN. IN THE CASE OF THE BA-HAI RELIGIOUS
MINORITY, HE SAYS THEIR SITUATION HAS IN MANY WAYS WORSENED. HE
OBSERVES THEY CONTINUE TO SUFFER FROM DISCRIMINATION AND
PERSECUTION, INCLUDING ARBITRARY ARRESTS, RAIDS ON HOMES AND
CONFISCATION OF PROPERTY. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/PCF
02-Apr-99 10:04 AM EST (1504 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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