Deutsche Welle Persian – September 6, 2010
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has expressed concern over the violation of ethnic minorities' rights in Iran. It has called on the Iranian government to end discrimination against ethnic minorities.
On Friday (August 27, 2010), the committee released a statement at the UN headquarters in Geneva, expressing alarm over the deprivation of the political, economic, social, and cultural rights of Arab, Turkish, Kurdish, and other non-Persian groups in Iran.
Lack of Transparency in Data
At the beginning of its statement, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination acknowledged the active participation and cooperation of Iranian representatives. However, it criticized the Iranian government for failing to provide necessary data on ethnic groups and the regions they inhabit, despite conducting a national census in 2007.
The committee has requested that Iran include the ethnic affiliations of its citizens in the next census and officially publish the results.
Systematic "Selection"
The committee's report highlights the significantly low participation of ethnic individuals and groups in national and public affairs. According to the report, only those who demonstrate complete loyalty to Iran’s official religion and political system can access government resources, such as employment or official positions.
The report asserts that a "selection" process is implemented throughout all state institutions, systematically discriminating against individuals belonging to ethnic and religious minorities. The committee views this process as a tool to exclude minorities from government roles.
Lack of Complaints Does Not Indicate Absence of Discrimination
During the investigation, Iranian officials reportedly argued that there were no complaints of ethnic discrimination within the country. However, the committee dismissed this claim as baseless, emphasizing that the absence of complaints does not mean discrimination does not exist. The committee noted that victims of discrimination lack trust or legal confidence in Iran’s authorities and judicial system.
The committee also expressed concern over the lack of freedom and facilities for ethnic communities in Iran to learn and teach their native languages. It found Article 19 of Iran’s Constitution incompatible with the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, urging the Iranian government to revise its laws in this regard.
Call for Action
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has requested that the Iranian government recognize the committee's authority to receive and investigate complaints from Iranian citizens regarding ethnic discrimination. It has also asked the government to respond to the demands outlined in the report within one year.
The link to the original article in Farsi on Deutsche Welle Persian:
انتقاد سازمان ملل از تبعیض علیه اقلیتها در ایران