David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Friday 16 January, 2009

A bad year for human rights in Iran

2008 may have played host to worldwide celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, but it was a bad year for human rights in Iran - even by recent standards. Iran executed at least 320 people last year, maintaining its grim record of more executions per capita than any other country. At least seven of those 320 were juvenile offenders, and in December two executions were carried out by stoning - despite explicit statements made by the Iranian judiciary in 2008 banning both barbaric practices.

The forcible closure in December of the Centre for Human Rights Defenders, founded by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi, was a blow to the entire human rights movement in Iran, demonstrating the government's zero tolerance approach to those courageous individuals who fight for the basic human rights so many of us take for granted, and dashing hopes for an early improvement in the situation in 2009.

Posted at 17:00 16 January 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[16]

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Hi, I am following your visit in india. As a journalist, I want to know how you really feel. We have myriad realities in our country, acute povery with ample richness. As a country of culture mixed identity, we always prefer social systems for our destiny. Karma's & faith in religion make us more open. Acceptable for all. We can change things, but on the verge of extreme. We love to show the reality, because we know that this is our fate. Well, please write your experiences.

Posted by Bhavya srivastava on January 16, 2009 at 05:54 PM GMT #

Listening to the lies and fudge, respectively, coming out of the USA and UN today regarding Israel's atrocities in Gaza don't you think you are being a bit hypocritical to point out Iran's shameful human rights record whilst conveniently staying silent about Israel's. As every Gazan family endures another night of Israeli terror. As each new United Nations resolution gets ignored with impunity. As one more settlement gets built in the West Bank. As another 'lock down' is in operation in the West Bank. As anti-war protests are quelled in shamocratic Israel. I have nothing but shame for our present Western leaders in the Quartet. For their duplicity. For hi-jacking the already undemocratic nature of the United Nations Security Council. For undermining the very spirit of Article 1 of the United Nations Charter. This has been a very, very, sad day for Western democracy. Thanks David.

Posted by L Pain on January 16, 2009 at 06:46 PM GMT #

Great to read the blog! I think a key issue is not only to improve the human rights situation in Iran - which is urgent, but to maintain it in other parts of the middle east, for example some schools have had to close in the north-western Swat district to comply with a Taleban edict banning girls' education.

Posted by John Unwin on January 17, 2009 at 03:05 PM GMT #

In view of your comment that we should not see our opposition to terrorism as a war, do you think you could find time to tell the chaps on the front line in Afghanistan exactly what they are doing there? If not a war, then what? A little local difficulty? Good men are dying out there, Foreign Secretary, and it is not appropriate for you to diminish their sacrifice by sophistry aimed at securing your place in the next Labour leadership election.

Posted by John Coles on January 17, 2009 at 06:18 PM GMT #

Yes it was a bad year in Iran as 320 people were executed, but what about Human Right violation in Gaza where Israel has killed 1100 Palestinians Most of them are civilians just in two weeks. Journalists are not allowed to get into Gaza, in spite of UN resolutions Israel keeps on killing innocent civilians. Probably it needs a lot of courage to criticise Israel's atrocities, do we really want peace in world? I wonder how will Palestinian's little kids forget this rest of their lives? Thanks

Posted by Basharat Khan on January 17, 2009 at 08:21 PM GMT #

The most astonishing thing is that western countries love talking about so-called "democratic values", and impose them on other non-democratic states. They find it their sacred mission spreading democracy across the world. What happens in Iran is a tragedy, but the solution for it isn't democracy, indeed. If those in Iran were guilty, they didn't have to punish them in this inhuman way. And that goes without saying, and I'm sure that nobody would justify the Iranian government who commit such atrocities. The way to democracy can't be paved by taking people's lives away. Unfortunately, we have seen many examples of it......

Posted by Louisa on January 18, 2009 at 01:55 PM GMT #

Pure propaganda from Mr Milliband. The fact that he sees fit to lecture the Iranians on how they run their country when British troops have been illegally occupying two of Iran’s neighbours for around the past six years is quite surreal. This is to be expected though. He is a committed internationalist. For all his talk about human rights, he cares nothing for the rights of those who do not want to be part of the global elite’s Brave New World, least of all Britain’s indigenous people, to whom he does not belong. If you are reading this, and if you are one of us, ask yourself what you should really be more concerned about: the criminal justice system in Iran? Or the deliberate dispossession of your own people, cheered on as it is by the likes of Mr Milliband and the indoctrinated apparatchiks who populate Britain's public sector?

Posted by Russ Peterson on January 19, 2009 at 12:51 AM GMT #

Anything to say yet about what sort of a year it was for human rights in China and Tibet? Any plans to attend celebrations for the 20th anniversary of the restoration of law and order in central Beijing or the 50th anniversary of the abolition of serfdom in Lhasa?

Posted by OwenE2 on January 19, 2009 at 01:26 PM GMT #

Not that I want to minimise the assault on human rights in Iran - I just want to remind you that however inconvenient they may be human rights are indivisible.

Posted by OwenE2 on January 19, 2009 at 01:32 PM GMT #

It was not such a good year for human rights in Gaza either. Can we trust that the British government will help to ensure that those who have used illegal weapons, such as white phosphorus, against civilians, as well as those who attacked the "Dignity" medical aid ship on the high seas, will be brought to justice?

Posted by Leighton Cooke on January 19, 2009 at 02:12 PM GMT #

Mr. Milliband The credibility of our country and the whole western world is in tatters. I was expecting western leaders to demand a pound of flesh from Israel when it repeatedly shelled clearly labelled UN buildings. This was not the first time, it has happened in Lebanon killing more than 100 people including UN staff. All this is on top of ignoring multiple UN resolutions. So what credibility have we got telling Iran about human rights, or accusing Sudan's leader of war crimes, while shaking the bloody hands of Israeli leaders and dinning with them.

Posted by simon on January 19, 2009 at 08:59 PM GMT #

Do you still think Israel is a wonderful democracy. Is Israel's track record on human rights any better than Iran? You say that with 320 executions that Iran's record is the worst offender in the world. Does that mean that the 1000 executed by Israel in 2009 will put them top of the list? Will you be saying anything about that? I doubt it. Are you supporting an investigation of the war crimes committed by Israel?

Posted by Paul Macdonald on January 20, 2009 at 11:03 AM GMT #

I am agree that there are few Human Rights in islamic countries. Thtats is 99 true. But in Islam there are too much Human Right and Respect for every thing, for other religions,faith,feelings,land,every things. Islamic countries,Islamic Leaders,Islamic Orginazations,Islamic Extrements/militents are things doing these many do not belong to Islamic. e.g Honour killing,So called Hadoodsex law in islamic countries,Marriages lawforce marrieges these thing are in Muslims but not in Islam.

Posted by Roberto G on January 20, 2009 at 06:14 PM GMT #

And also few human rights in UK, as well if you try to speak any thing regarding your rights, you will face too much stop and searches,Immigrations raids,and therad that your visa/residence permit will cancell and well be deport.But this is universal truth Might is Right, and Power is every thing.Every where in this world there is no Human respect, peoples are killing to each other for the sake of Lands/religios/languages etc. why we all are Human first of all then Jews/Cristains/Muslim/hundu etc. God save every one from extremists and UKBA. Both do not care feelings.

Posted by Roberto G on January 20, 2009 at 06:15 PM GMT #

Too many debates about war crimes and those who commit them..Don't you all think that it's high time to create an analogue of the Nuremberg trials??? Let's send all alleged war criminals to one camp, including Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Zimbabwe's president and his cabinet, Sudan's president, Iranian leadership and many-many others... If they are found guilty, they must be made bear responsibility for their heinous acts...

Posted by Louisa on January 21, 2009 at 10:38 AM GMT #

Two words - Diego Garcia. As long as you, Mr Miliband, not only fail to address the crimes against humanity committed by our nation in this instance, but also continue to shield those who committed and continue to commit them, you have scant right to speak on anyone else's failings. Clean your own house first.

Posted by Richard Morgan on January 21, 2009 at 01:00 PM GMT #

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