Video of Hillel Neuer confronting Iranian delegate at UN Urgent Session on Iran is now being shared widely on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
UN Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer took the floor to confront lies spread by the Iranian delegate. 35th Special Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the deteriorating situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, November 24, 2022.
UNHRC President: I give the floor to the deputy of the vice president for Women and Family Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ms. Khadijeh Karimi.
Khadijeh Karimi, Islamic Republic of Iran: Bismillah Al Rahman Rahim. Mr. President, the Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets that the Human Rights Council is abused once again by some arrogant states to antagonize a sovereign UN member state that’s fully committed to its obligation to promote and protect the human rights. But using the common cause of human rights to a tool for political purposes of specific groups, of Western countries, is appalling and disgraceful.
The politically motivated move of Germany to distort the situation of human rights in Iran is an orchestrated ploy for ulterior motives which would lead nowhere, but to drive the Human Rights Council from its genuine mandate. Why the rights of Iranian people… Sorry…
HRC President: UN Watch has the floor.
Hillel Neuer, UN Watch: Thank you, Mr. President. When people are asked to tell terrible lies, they get flustered and confused. But the people - the courageous protesters - in 150 cities across Iran are not confused. They have moral clarity because they are on the side of truth and justice.
Now, we meet at the United Nations, which was founded to reaffirm faith and fundamental freedoms, human dignity, and the equal rights of women and men. It is written in the Charter. This is exactly what the people of Iran are demanding. Will the UN live up to its promise? Will this Council answer the desperate cries for help, heard from Javanrud … Tehran, Sistan and Baluchestan?
Moments ago, the Deputy of the Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran told us they respect human rights. And so we ask the Islamic Republic: If you respect human rights, why are you killing children, like nine-year-old Kian Pirfalak last week?
Why do you shoot and kill hundreds of protesters like Minou Majidi, whose daughter just met in Paris with President Macron?
Why do you beat innocent women like Mahsa Amini?
We ask the Islamic Republic: If you respect human rights, why do you kidnap the injured from hospitals and use ambulances to grab protesters from the streets?
If you respect human rights, why are you holding 15,000 protesters in your prisons denied any justice and at risk of execution?
Mr. President, we need action: Sanction the killers. Expel the diplomats. Designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity. Expel the haters of women from the UN Women’s Rights Commission.
I thank you.
