The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, today made the following statement deploring the presence at the inaugural meeting of the UN Human Rights Council of Tehran Prosecutor General Saeed Mortazavi:
“The presence of Mr. Mortazavi in Iran’s delegation demonstrates the Government of Iran’s complete contempt for internationally recognized principles of human rights. The Government of Canada expresses its disgust at the fact that Iran would choose to include such a person in its delegation to a new UN body intended to promote the highest standards of respect for human rights.
“By including Mr. Mortazavi in its delegation, Iran is trying to discredit the Council and deflect attention from the Council’s goal of ensuring greater respect for human rights.
“Two official Iranian government investigations found that Prosecutor General Mortazavi ordered the illegal arrest and detention of Canadian journalist Zahra Kazemi, which led to her torture and death. He then falsified documents to cover up his involvement in her case. Mr. Mortazavi has also been involved in the harsh clampdown on the Iranian press and the arrests of many Iranian journalists.
“Canada is committed to making the UN Human Rights Council a respected and effective body that will encourage improved human rights performance by all UN member states. Iran ran for the Council but failed to secure the support of a majority of UN members.
“Canada has shared its assessment of the Government of Iran’s involvement in the killing of Zahra Kazemi and the role of Mr. Mortazavi in that case with the President of the Council, representatives of the host governmentââ¬âSwitzerlandââ¬âand the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. We have also called on other delegations to the Human Rights Council meeting to condemn Mr. Mortazavi’s presence.”
