Spokesman Raps EU Interference in Iran’s Judicial Affairs
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi urged the European Union to stop interfering in the internal affairs of the country and refrain from making “unconstructive” comments by developing a better understanding of Iran’s judicial procedures.
Qassemi on Saturday dismissed remarks by the European External Action Service’s spokesperson about the judiciary’s upholding of the prison sentence of an Iranian convict as an act of “interference”, saying such comments are deemed unconstructive as Iran and Europe are going to hold human rights talks in the near future.
The reaction came after the EEAS spokesperson issued a statement on Friday, claiming the recent court verdict in Iran “sends a worrying signal about the human rights situation in the country.”
“The EU reiterates its call on the Iranian authorities to respect its international human rights obligations,” the statement added.
Elsewhere in his comments, Qassemi reminded the EU officials that “political statements” would not help promote human rights, stressing that such issues should not be employed for interference in the internal affairs of others and judging cases that exclusively come within the purview of countries’ independent judiciary.
Back in August, Iran’s top judge Ayatollah Amoli Larijani proposed that the Islamic Republic and Europe can begin discussions about human rights, provided that Iran also has the chance to question the shortcomings of Europeans regarding human rights.
“I suggest that the (Judiciary’s) Human Rights Council, the Foreign Ministry and the Supreme National Security Council pave the way for talks with European countries (on human rights),” he said, adding that the US must be excluded from any such discussions because “Americans are only after deception.”
“We also have things to say about human rights in Europe. We have questions and views about Europe’s approach toward humans, Islamophobia in Europe, and France’s ban on hijab,” he stressed.
