Tehran calls Canadian-sponsored UN resolution a political move

"The politicization of human rights forms the centerpiece of the West's approach toward human rights, and such a selfish approach threatens the cornerstone of human rights in the whole world," the Press Department of the ministry quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi as saying.

He stated that the resolution against Iran was the outcome of Canadian efforts to distort realities and a reaction to a single incident which occurred in Iran.

Asefi was referring to the death in custody of Iranian-Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi in 2003.

This resolution is regarded as part of the efforts to influence public opinion, and its contents have nothing to do with the real human rights situation in Iran, he added.

Canada is not in a position to make judgments on human rights, he said, adding that the Canadian representative's speech on the UN Human Rights Commission was an effort to restructure the body in line with the political goals of his country.

Western countries use the issue of human rights for their political purposes and interests, and their discriminatory approach in this regard has been clear to all, he stated.

Asefi also said that Iran will never yield to political pressure.

MS/HG

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MNA