Unfted Nafiwis Office of Public Information
— Press Section
Press Re'ease United Nations, New York
ff 12 153
11 September 1981
SUB-COMMISSION ACTS ON PERSECUTION OF BAHA'I RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY IN IRAN
Recommends Measures for United Nations Assistance
InResolving Human Rights Situations in El Salvador and Afghanistan
(Received from the United Nations Infcrmation Service, Geneva.)
The Sub—Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities, at a meeting in Geneva on Wednesday (9 September), said it was
convinced that the persecution of the Baha'i community in Iran was motivated
by religious intolerence and desire tc eliminate the Baha'i faith, and
recommended measures to ensure further review by the United Nations of the
“perilous situation” facing this religious community.
The Sub—Commission took this action after it had heard at its current
session statements which, it said, clearly demonstrate:I “the systematic
persecution of the Baha'i in Iran, including arrests, torture, beatings,
executicns, murders, kidnappings, disappcarances, abauctions and many other
forms of harassment.
It drew the attention of its parent body, the Commission on Human Rights,
to this problem. And it requested Secretary—General Kurt Waldheim to submit
all relevant information on the matter to the next session of the Ccrnniission
to be held in February 1982.
In seven resolutions aaopted at two meetings, the Sub—Ccmmission also
approved measures and recommendations for United Nations action to assist in
the resolution of the human rights situations in Israeli—occupied Arab
territories, El Salvador and Afghanistan.
It approved arrangements for continued work on its study on
discriminatory treatment in the administration of justice, and on the updating
of its report on transnational corporations and other organizations assisting
the colonial and facist regime in South Africa..
It took the first step towards reactivation of its consideration of the
question of the right of everyone to leave any country, including his own, an
to return to his country.
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For information media — not an official record
— 2 — Press Release RR/2153
11 Scptem cr 1981
It heard a progress report on a study which it has requested on the
status of the individual and contemporary international law. It Lc an
consic cration of a draft rcsolutjon on the establishment of the post of a
United Nations Human Rights Commissioner. It received an amendment to this
draft, prOposing that consideration of this question he postponed to its ncxt
session.
Action on Baha'i in Iran
The resolution on the Bah i'i in Iran was sponsored by the experts from
Norway, Ghana, Francc,.Ncxico, India, Zambia, Costa Rica, Panama, United
Kingdom, Ethiopia and Peru, and was adopted by 19 votes in favour to flOflC
against, with 5 abstentions.
In the tcx.t as adoptcd, the Sub—Commission also expressed its “profound
concern” for the perilous situation facing this religious community. It
expressed concern that the Government of Iran appeared to have ignored all
previous approaches wadc on their behalf.
It expressed its appreciation for the efforts already maec by the
Secretary—General on their behalf, and urged him to continue his efforts to
persuade the Iranian Government to prevent further attacks on the Baha'i
community and to grant them religious frecdom.
Action on Israeli—Occupied Arab Territories
The resolution on the human rights situation in Israeli—occupied AraT:;
territories was sponsored by the experts from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ghana,
E ypt, India, Zambia, Sudan, Soviet Union, United Kin dom, Norocco, Roman ia,
Nigeria, Yugoslavia anc. Ethiopia. It was adopted by 20 votes in favour to 1
• against, with 4 abstentions.
In this draft, the Sub—Commission recalled United Nations resolutions on
• the subject, and deplored the refusal of the Israeli authorities to abide by
them.
It recommcnocd that the Commission on Human Rights take a number of
actions, including in..particular the recommendation that the Commission:
—— Reaffirm the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to
• sell—determination without external intcrforcnce and the establishment of a
fully indepcndcnt and sovereign state in Palestine;
—— Rca ffirin'thc in.alicnoble right of the Palestinians to return to
their home and property, from which they have been displaced and uprooted, and
call for their return in the exorcise: of their right to self—determination;
—— Reaffirm the principle of the inadmissibility of the acquisition of
territory by force and urge thc Israeli authorities to withdraw from all thc
occupied Arab territories,; including the Holy City of Jerusalem, ane to stop
(wore)
