While the resolution was backed by 78 member states, 30 states including India, Russia and China, voted against it.
Simultaneously on the same day, India abstained on a UN resolution on the “situation of human rights in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine”. It joined 79 countries from across the continents in doing so. While 78 countries backed the resolution, 15 member states of the UN voted against the resolution.
Both resolutions were put to vote in the UN General Assembly on December 19.
The resolution on Iran “expresses serious concern” over a litany of human rights violations in Iran-including the denial of the freedom of religion or belief. Baha’is “in particular” are subject to “undue restrictions on burials carried out in accordance with religious tenets, attacks against places… and other human rights violations,” which include “increased harassment, intimidation, persecution, arbitrary arrest and detention” and incitement to hatred through official and unofficial media that may “lead to violence”.
In response, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani criticised the resolution on the human rights situation in Iran, alleging that it is founded on blatant double standards.
