November 18, 2005

Voting record on the draft resolution on the situation of human rights in Iran

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Only 77 UN states voted in favor of a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly's Third Committee criticizing Iranian violations of human rights. (51 voted against and another 46 abstained.) Sudan – who voted against - explained the problem this way: "the vibrant democratic practices in Iran are a source of admiration to my delegation." Are we supposed to be impressed? Turkmenistan – who also voted against – put it a little differently "Iran is our good neighbor and friend with whom we enjoy many financial and trade relations and therefore we will oppose." They think that explanation was fine - in the lead UN body on social and humanitarian affairs.