Iranian Spokeswoman Questions US Competence to Judge Human Rights
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran' Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham emphasized that the US government lacks the right to criticize human rights situation in other states because of Washington's terrible human rights record.
The US effort to cover up the crimes committed in secret US prisons in Europe, its failure to punish the perpetrators of human rights crimes in Abu Ghraib and Bagram prisons, imposition of unfair sanctions against other countries by the US and its plot to fuel unrest in different parts of the globe over the past years, disqualify the US government to judge other states’ human rights record, Afkham said on Tuesday.
Afkham also refuted allegations by US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki about the human rights situation in Iran.
Earlier in the day, Psaki had expressed Washington’s concerns about what she called “large number” of executions in Iran.
The Iranian spokeswoman said the US statements regarding the issue are politically motivated.
Afkham also reminded world countries' responsibility to promote human rights condition all around the world and wage all-out and decisive war on the inhumane phenomenon of terrorism.
Also on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the West of applying double-standard policies when it comes to the issue of human rights.
The Iranian minister said human rights should not be considered as a tool, and called on all sides to avoid selective attitude towards the issue of human rights.
"Human rights are a set of interconnected issues, therefore if people of a country cannot afford medicine, it would be serious and systematic violation of human rights."