ÿWPCž ,ËíSÀZr'guc'jáK1vÃÔp†Ë…—b÷3“bR ï ¬½YdÞŽæ…@søª _¼¥-Ë)ä+¡¶†øºGÐÅ×ù(ri‚ÁEïÒà õŒ:¡_bšî-@D<Ív©ÀÁañÀ._åŒåþ·´-PžÔ“HÈv^:îæ ŒÁbx“[²\7öc/‘Z€ë_Uš›YþϦ-Ý8Kt(S%l»N Å?g6|»ù}å±¢­¼}èFè©*°é´gâε8Ÿ÷^½¹ÎÍ®»Âý¦ÂY.Ï(3E¦w3Œÿ:@^*ÐsäÃAÑöÊ=Ÿ¯h@g×÷o’9ÊD2Õ¤;™kÉ­-a™×ý«}=Ë /¯–CÛaÚôŒ°À²uðÌsÌ»Yl5*.Ðú¼NÖéªLG‡r‚î…Эº*Z†à”Íá.ÇëUÔ©rKï40q±±Ò±M">qÁã.¸¥ðjœ£µÑÌ#É\Ù¤6V[¥#¿CÔ6Ãm0 Š¹§«u¬ãQˆ¿ö!°œXBÓÝ  ÝÓ! ++ŒP++7!Óà Œ àà P àCCPR/C/SR.1253Ð Ø Ðà Œ àà P àpage€Ú  Ú2Ú  ÚÐ ŸÇ Ð(2¾$¨¨Ý ƒ Š!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÑÑÑ  ÑÑTRWÐ6Â&Xà3Ø' Letter Ï6Á&A4\ÑÔ€ôôôÔÔO€ÿ3Ø'LetterTÑÔ€ôØ7òòôÔÔ€ôØ7òòôØ7ÔÓ  ÓÓ33ÓÒ+°ÒÒÅ°ÒÑØ°ÑÑ¥°ÑÓB.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!°œXBÓÑÈÑÑÈÑÝ  Ý ]Ý ƒ ¾'ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÔ€ôØ7òòôÔÔ€ôØ7òòôØ7ÔÓ  ÓÓ33ÓÒ+°ÒÒÅ°ÒÓB.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!°œXBÓÝ  ÝÓ! ++ŒP++7!ÓCCPR/C/SR.1253Ð Ø Ðpage€Ú  Ú2Ú  ÚÐ ŸÇ Ð(2¾$§§Ý ƒ Š!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÑÑÑ  ÑÑTRWÐ6Â&Xà3Ø' Letter Ï6Á&A4\ÑÔ€ôôôÔÔO€ÿ3Ø'LetterTÑÔ€ôØ7òòôÔÔ€ôØ7òòôØ7ÔÓ  ÓÓ33ÓÒ+°ÒÒÅ°ÒÑØ°ÑÑ¥°ÑÓB.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!°œXBÓÑÈÑÑÈÑÝ  Ý(Ü!2¥Œ$¤¤Ý ƒ Š!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÑÑÑ  ÑÑTRWÐ6Â&Xà3Ø' Letter Ï6Á&A4\ÑÔ€ôôôÔÔO€ÿ3Ø'LetterTÑÔ€ôØ7òòôÔÔ€ôØ7òòôØ7ÔÓ  ÓÓ33ÓÒ+°ÒÒÅ°ÒÑØ°ÑÑ¥°ÑÓB.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!°œXBÓÑÈÑÑÈÑÝ  ÝÓ3333ÓÔ€0jXòôØ7ÔÒ°+ÒÒ°ÅÒ€€€€òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó/(Ü!2§¬$¥¥Ý ƒ Š!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÑÑÑ  ÑÑTRWÐ6Â&Xà3Ø' Letter Ï6Á&A4\ÑÔ€ôôôÔÔO€ÿ3Ø'LetterTÑÔ€ôØ7òòôÔÔ€ôØ7òòôØ7ÔÓ  ÓÓ33ÓÒ+°ÒÒÅ°ÒÑØ°ÑÑ¥°ÑÓB.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!°œXBÓÑÈÑÑÈÑÝ  ÝÓ3333ÓÔ€0jXòôØ7ÔÒ°+ÒÒ°ÅÒ€€€€òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó/#|d (tŠ$¡¡ÔUKUS.,ÔÑÑÑ  ÑÑTRWÐ6Â&Xà3Ø' Letter Ï6Á&A4\ÑÔ€ôôôÔÔO€ÿ3Ø'LetterTÑÔ€ôØ7òòôÔÔ€ôØ7òòôØ7ÔÓ  ÓÓ33ÓÒ+°ÒÒÅ°ÒÑØ°ÑÑ¥°ÑÓB.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!°œXBÓÑÈÑÑÈÑ d˜HP LaserJet 4P,ü,,,,,ü0!…z0— ‘vx0y Documeø—FÿU‹ÿÀÀÀÝ ƒ Š!ÝÔUKUS.,ÔÑÑÑ  ÑÑTRWÐ6Â&Xà3Ø' Letter Ï6Á&A4\ÑÔ€ôôôÔÔO€ÿ3Ø'LetterTÑÔ€ôØ7òòôÔÔ€ôØ7òòôØ7ÔÓ  ÓÓ33ÓÒ+°ÒÒÅ°ÒÑØ°ÑÑ¥°ÑÓB.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!°œXBÓÑÈÑÑÈÑÝ  ÝÔ_ÔÑ  ÑÑbØÑщ¥ÑÓ! ++±“++7!Óà ± àà “ àDistr.Ð b Ðà ± àà “ àGENERALÐ )Ç ÐÌà ± àà “ àCCPR/C/SR.1253Ð · U Ðà ± àà “ à30€July€1993Ð ~  ÐÌà ± àà “ àOriginal:€€ENGLISHÐ  ª ÐÌÌÌÌÌÓE.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!++±âEÓà@GG)“àHUMAN€RIGHTS€COMMITTEEˆÐ ¶T  ÐÌà@««*“àForty„eighth€sessionˆÐ Dâ  ÐÌà@‹ ‹ "“àSUMMARY€RECORD€OF€THE€1253rd€MEETINGˆÐ Òp  ÐÌà@õ õ !“àHeld€at€the€Palais€des€Nations,€Geneva,ˆÐ `þ  Ðà@ï ï #“àon€Friday,€23€July€1993,€at€3€p.m.ˆÐ 'Å ÐÌÌà@««*“àòòChairmanóó:€€€Mr.€ANDOˆÐ | ÐÌÌà@0“àCONTENTSˆÐ Ño ÐÌConsideration€of€reports€submitted€by€States€parties€under€article40€of€theÐ _ý ÐCovenant€(òòcontinuedóó)Ð &Ä ÐÌà b àSecond€periodic€report€of€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€(òòcontinuedóó)Ð ´R ÐÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌß?€'Ú%sdE+Ú%s?ßà b àThis€record€is€subject€to€correction.Ð z&( ÐÌà b àCorrections€should€be€submitted€in€one€of€the€working€languages.€€TheyÐ (¦ * Ðshould€be€set€forth€in€a€memorandum€and€also€incorporated€in€a€copy€of€theÐ Ï(m!+ Ðrecord.€€They€should€be€sent€òòwithin€one€week€of€the€date€of€this€documentóó€toÐ –)4", Ðthe€Official€Records€Editing€Section,€room€E.4108,€Palais€des€Nations,€Geneva.Ð ]*û"- ÐÌà b àAny€corrections€to€the€records€of€the€public€meetings€of€the€Committee€atÐ ë+‰$/ Ðthis€session€will€be€consolidated€in€a€single€corrigendum,€to€be€issuedÐ ²,P%0 Ðshortly€after€the€end€of€the€session.Ð y-&1 ÐÌGE.93„17551€€(E)Ð /¥'3 Ðâ âÐ Î/l(4 ÐÑØbÑÑ}‰ÑÖ€ÿÿÖÖ€ÿÿÖÓB.++b™ Ð >u¬ãQˆ¿ö!++7BÓà@û û “àòòThe€meeting€was€called€to€order€at€3.10€p.m.óóˆÐ Ô ÐÌCONSIDERATION€OF€REPORTS€SUBMITTED€BY€STATES€PARTIES€UNDER€ARTICLE40€OF€THEÐ bŽ ÐCOVENANT€(agenda€item€4)€(òòcontinuedóó)Ð )U ÐòòÌSecond€periodic€report€of€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iranóó€(CCPR/C/28/Add.15)Ð ·ã Ð(òòcontinuedóó)Ð ~ ª ÐÌ1.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€invited€Mr.Mehrpour€to€provide€additional€clarificationsÐ  8 Ðbefore€the€members€of€the€Committee€made€their€concluding€observations€on€theÐ Ó ÿ  Ðsecond€periodic€report€of€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€(CCPR/C/28/Add.15).€€Ð š Æ  ÐÌ2.à b àòòMr.€MEHRPOURóó€(Islamic€Republic€of€Iran)€said€the€fact€that€the€CovenantÐ (T  Ðhad€been€signed€and€ratified€under€the€former€regime,€prior€to€the€popularÐ ï  Ðrevolution€which€had€brought€about€radical€changes€in€government€policy,Ð ¶â  Ðlegislation€and€society,€posed€no€threat€to€the€fulfilment€of€Iran'sÐ }©  Ðobligations€under€that€instrument.€€The€present€dialogue€with€the€CommitteeÐ Dp  Ðwas€ample€proof€of€the€new€Government's€firm€intention€to€honour€itsÐ  7  Ðcommitments€in€that€regard.€€Every€effort€was€being€made€to€ensure€respect€forÐ Òþ  Ðthe€general€principles€of€freedom€and€justice€laid€down€in€the€Covenant,€whichÐ ™Å Ðin€any€case€already€existed€in€the€Islamic€scriptures€that€formed€the€basis€ofÐ `Œ Ðthe€Iranian€Government's€policy€and€legislation.€€Ð 'S ÐÌ3.à b àIt€was€worth€noting€that€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€had€entered€noÐ µá Ðreservations€when€ratifying€the€Covenant€„€contrary€to€many€Western€countries,Ð |¨ Ðsome€of€whose€numerous€reservations€concerned€apparently€very€minor€issues.€€Ð Co ÐÌ4.à b àHe€stressed€the€need€for€flexibility€in€interpreting€some€of€the€articlesÐ Ñý Ðin€the€Covenant€to€make€allowance€for€cultural€differences€between€the€variousÐ ˜Ä ÐStates€parties.€€A€case€in€point€was€article23(4),€which€concerned€equalityÐ _‹ Ðof€rights€and€responsibilities€in€respect€of€marriage.€€While€his€countryÐ &R Ðfully€respected€the€right€of€both€parties€to€marry€the€partner€of€theirÐ í Ðchoice,€it€viewed€the€respective€responsibilities€of€the€spouses€duringÐ ´à  Ðmarriage€quite€differently€from€European€countries,€for€instance€the€customÐ {§! Ðwhich€was€reflected€in€its€civil€legislation,€was€that€the€husband€aloneÐ Bn" Ðshould€have€responsibility€for€providing€for€the€family€and€running€theÐ  5# Ðaffairs€of€the€household.€€That€situation€might€well€change€in€the€future,Ð Ð ü$ Ðbut,€for€the€time€being€such€time-honoured€Islamic€traditions€continued€to€beÐ —!Ã% Ðobserved.€€It€was€essential€to€seek€ways€of€reconciling€diverging€views€ratherÐ ^"Š& Ðthan€imposing€too€restrictive€an€interpretation€which€could€only€result€inÐ %#Q' Ðfurther€difficulties,€and€his€delegation€looked€to€the€Committee€forÐ ì#( Ðassistance€in€that€regard.€€Ð ³$ß) ÐÌ5.à b àFurther€evidence€of€a€commitment€to€improving€the€human€rights€situationÐ A&m!+ Ðwas€the€recent€establishment€of€a€parliamentary€commission€to€investigateÐ '4", Ðallegations€of€human€rights€violations.€€The€commission's€duties€includedÐ Ï'û"- Ðmaking€visits€to€prisons€in€order€to€deal€with€individual€complaints€andÐ –(Â#. Ðsuggest€improvements€where€appropriate.€€Another,€more€academic€body€had€beenÐ ])‰$/ Ðset€up€by€a€group€of€legal€scholars€in€order€to€study€human€rights€issues€andÐ $*P%0 Ðcodify€appropriate€legislation€with€a€view€to€preventing€violations.Ð ë*&1 ÐÌ6.à b àCompared€to€the€other€countries€in€the€region€the€Islamic€Republic€ofÐ y,¥'3 ÐIran€was€making€great€efforts€to€comply€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant,Ð @-l(4 Ðas€was€demonstrated€òòinter€aliaóó,€by€the€election€of€women€to€Parliament€andÐ Ô Ðtheir€increased€participation€in€various€other€sectors€of€society.€€If€theÐ ›Ç ÐCommittee€examined€the€facts€carefully€and€objectively,€disregarding€badÐ bŽ Ðpublicity€and€biased€reports,€it€would€recognize€that€his€country€had€madeÐ )U Ðgreat€strides€in€that€respect.Ð ð ÐÌ7.à b àHe€was€of€the€view€that€Iran€was€being€subjected€to€greater€pressure€thanÐ ~ ª Ðother€countries€in€the€region€with€a€poorer€human€rights€record€on€account€ofÐ E q Ðcertain€issues€that€were€of€special€concern€to€the€Committee,€such€as€women'sÐ  8 Ðrights.€€Yet€what€was€the€situation€regarding€the€rights€of€Muslim€women€inÐ Ó ÿ  Ðnon-Muslim€countries?€€In€many€countries€which€prided€themselves€on€theirÐ š Æ  Ðdemocratic€traditions€it€was€difficult€for€young€Muslim€women€to€manifestÐ a   Ðtheir€religious€beliefs€openly€and€respect€the€principles€of€Islam,€withÐ (T  Ðregard€for€instance€to€dress.€Ð ï  ÐÌ8.à b àHis€delegation€felt€that€it€was€the€target€of€undue€criticism€on€the€partÐ }©  Ðof€the€Committee€and€asked€to€be€treated€in€the€same€way€as€other€StatesÐ Dp  Ðparties.€€While€he€acknowledged€that€the€initial€report€submitted€by€hisÐ  7  Ðcountry€had€been€somewhat€too€summary,€no€effort€had€been€spared€in€theÐ Òþ  Ðpreparation€of€the€second€periodic€report,€which€was€much€more€comprehensiveÐ ™Å Ðand€dealt€in€detail€with€particularly€difficult€issues.€€It€had€been€hopedÐ `Œ Ðthat€such€efforts€would€have€been€duly€appreciated€by€the€Committee€andÐ 'S Ðfurther€encouragement€provided,€rather€than€the€contrary.€€Ð î ÐÌ9.à b àHe€pointed€out€that€the€dialogue€with€the€Committee€could€only€be€reallyÐ |¨ Ðuseful€if€it€provided€some€constructive€criticism€and€an€objective€analysis€ofÐ Co Ðsuch€inconsistencies€with€the€Covenant€as€might€still€exist,€as€well€asÐ  6 Ðsuggestions€for€possible€ways€of€resolving€those€problems.€€His€delegationÐ Ñý Ðwould€benefit€greatly€from€guidance€offered€by€the€Committee€in€that€spirit,Ð ˜Ä Ðwhich€he€would€willingly€convey€to€the€competent€authorities€in€his€countryÐ _‹ Ðwith€a€view€to€improving€the€current€situation.€€He€was€confident€that€theÐ &R Ðmembers€of€the€Committee€would€heed€his€request.€€Ð í ÐÌ10.à b àòòMr.€ELSHAFEIóó€commended€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€on€its€secondÐ {§! Ðperiodic€report,€which€demonstrated€its€commitment€to€implementing€theÐ Bn" Ðprovisions€of€the€Covenant,€òòinteraliaóó€by€amending€its€legislation€andÐ  5# Ðensuring€sufficient€protection€of€the€rights€and€freedoms€envisaged€by€thatÐ Ð ü$ Ðinstrument€on€the€part€of€the€national€police,€public€prosecutors€and€theÐ —!Ã% Ðjudiciary.€€The€dialogue€between€the€Iranian€delegation€and€the€Committee€hadÐ ^"Š& Ðnot€only€been€extremely€interesting€but,€for€a€number€of€reasons,€had€alsoÐ %#Q' Ðproved€quite€unique.€€Ð ì#( ÐÌ11.à b àIn€the€Committee,€as€in€other€UnitedNations€treaty€bodies,€much€time€hadÐ z%¦ * Ðbeen€spent€discussing€to€what€extent€the€existing€legislation€and€social€normsÐ A&m!+ Ðbased€on€Shiite€doctrines€conflicted€with€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant,Ð '4", Ðwhich€were€recognized€as€an€international€yardstick€for€rights€and€freedoms€byÐ Ï'û"- Ðthe€signatories€to€that€instrument.€€The€Iranian€delegation€took€the€viewÐ –(Â#. Ðthat,€since€its€legislation€was€based€on€religious€doctrines€and€uniqueÐ ])‰$/ Ðhistorical€and€cultural€traditions,€it€could€not€be€called€into€question€byÐ $*P%0 Ðany€other€State€party,€whether€it€be€Muslim€or€not.Ð ë*&1 ÐÌ12.à b àIt€was€worth€noting€that€the€specific€problems€relating€to€the€IslamicÐ y,¥'3 ÐRepublic€of€Iran€and€other€Islamic€countries€had€recently€been€raised€in€aÐ @-l(4 Ðmuch€larger€forum,€namely€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights€held€in€ViennaÐ Ô Ðthe€previous€month.€€In€that€connection,€the€Vienna€Declaration€and€ProgrammeÐ ›Ç Ðof€Action€had€underlined€the€need€to€bear€in€mind€the€significance€of€nationalÐ bŽ Ðand€regional€particularities€and€various€historical,€cultural€and€religiousÐ )U Ðbackgrounds.Ð ð ÐÌ13.à b àA€second€important€factor€which€should€be€taken€into€account€was€that€theÐ ~ ª Ðcountry€was€still€recovering€from€the€effects€of€a€long€war€during€whichÐ E q Ðnumerous€restrictions€had€been€imposed€under€the€state€of€emergency.€€ManyÐ  8 Ðmembers€of€the€Committee€had€questioned€the€need€for€practices€such€asÐ Ó ÿ  Ðarbitrary€detention,€summary€trials,€torture€and€execution€of€opponents€of€theÐ š Æ  Ðregime€to€continue€five€years€after€the€end€of€the€war.€€Until€such€practicesÐ a   Ðwere€discontinued,€the€country€would€be€subject€to€mounting€pressure€on€theÐ (T  Ðpart€of€the€international€community.€€Ð ï  ÐÌ14.à b àThe€third€aspect€which€rendered€the€dialogue€unique€was€that,€when€theÐ }©  ÐCovenant€had€been€drafted,€no€provision€had€been€made€for€the€specificÐ Dp  Ðsituation€of€countries€like€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran,€although€the€rightÐ  7  Ðof€States€parties€to€have€their€own€particular€legislation€on€personal€mattersÐ Òþ  Ðincluding€property,€marriage€and€divorce€had€in€no€way€been€questioned.€€Ð ™Å ÐÌ15.à b àThe€dialogue€had€been€particularly€enlightening€and€constructive€in€someÐ 'S Ðrespects,€and€the€Committee€greatly€appreciated€the€efforts€made€by€theÐ î ÐIranian€delegation€to€clarify€some€of€the€more€complex€issues€which€had€beenÐ µá Ðespecially€difficult€to€grasp.€€However,€he€shared€the€concerns€expressed€byÐ |¨ Ðmembers€of€the€Committee€regarding€substantiated€claims€of€human€rightsÐ Co Ðviolations€which€could€not€be€justified€by€Iran's€special€circumstances.Ð  6 Ѐ€Ð Ñý Ð16.à b àWith€regard€to€violations€of€article6€of€the€Covenant,€the€Committee€hadÐ ˜Ä Ðreliable€information€from€a€number€of€sources€which€indicated€that€in€1992Ð _‹ Ðthere€had€been€301€executions,€164€of€which€had€been€for€political€reasons.€Ð &R ÐMoreover,€following€the€demonstrations€that€had€taken€place€in€several€citiesÐ í Ðthroughout€the€country€in€May€1992,€9€persons€had€been€put€to€death€while€aÐ ´à  Ðfurther€10€were€currently€awaiting€execution€merely€because€they€hadÐ {§! Ðparticipated€in€those€events.€€Moreover,€the€Iranian€authorities€had€refusedÐ Bn" Ðto€cooperate€with€the€Working€Group€on€Enforced€and€Involuntary€DisappearancesÐ  5# Ðconcerning€the€500€cases€reported€in€Iran€to€date.Ð Ð ü$ ÐÌ17.à b àIt€had€also€been€brought€to€the€Committee's€attention€that€torture€andÐ ^"Š& Ðdegrading€treatment€were€being€used€systematically€in€Iranian€prisons€toÐ %#Q' Ðextract€confessions€which€would€lead€to€prisoners'€execution.Ð ì#( ÐÌ18.à b àAs€to€violations€of€article14,€there€was€good€reason€to€believe€thatÐ z%¦ * Ðdeath€sentences€were€handed€down€without€any€guarantees€of€due€process€of€law.€Ð A&m!+ ÐTrials€held€in€secret€by€the€Revolutionary€Courts€still€seemed€to€be€the€ruleÐ '4", Ðrather€than€the€exception;€accused€persons€were€not€allowed€witnesses€or€theÐ Ï'û"- Ðright€to€appeal€and€were€denied€access€to€defence€counsel.€€Ð –(Â#. ÐÌ19.à b àFurther€causes€of€concern€included€the€continuing€ban€on€press€syndicatesÐ $*P%0 Ðand€restrictions€on€the€education€of€women€in€certain€branches€of€learning.Ð ë*&1 ÐÌâ âÐ y,¥'3 Ð20.à b àIn€conclusion,€referring€to€Mr.Mehrpour's€comments€regarding€theÐ Ô Ðâ âCommittee's€attitude,€he€stressed€that€throughout€the€dialogue€the€CommitteeÐ ›Ç Ðhad€sought€to€be€objective€in€its€assessment€of€the€human€rights€situation€inÐ bŽ Ðthe€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran.€€It€hoped€that€its€observations€would€be€dulyÐ )U Ðconveyed€to€the€competent€authorities€in€that€country.Ð ð ÐÌ21.à b àòòMr.€HERNDLóó€thanked€Mr.Mehrpour€for€the€wealth€of€information€he€hadÐ ~ ª Ðprovided€in€the€course€of€his€often€difficult€task€of€explaining€hisÐ E q ÐGovernment's€policies.€€The€conciliatory€approach€he€had€adopted€augured€wellÐ  8 Ðfor€the€start€of€a€fruitful€dialogue,€which€would,€however,€need€to€beÐ Ó ÿ  Ðcontinued,€in€view€of€the€many€misunderstandings€that€persisted€with€regard€toÐ š Æ  Ðthe€implementation€of€the€Covenant.€€The€second€periodic€report€of€the€IslamicÐ a   ÐRepublic€of€Iran,€due€in€the€early€1980s,€had€reached€the€Committee€in€theÐ (T  Ðearly€1990s;€its€third€periodic€report€was€now€already€due.€€He€trusted€thatÐ ï  Ðsubmission€of€that€report€in€the€near€future€would€provide€an€opportunity€toÐ ¶â  Ðcontinue€and€improve€that€dialogue.Ð }©  ÐÌ22.à b àReferring€to€the€affirmation€in€the€Vienna€Declaration€and€Programme€ofÐ  7  ÐAction€that€the€protection€and€promotion€of€human€rights€and€fundamentalÐ Òþ  Ðfreedoms€was€the€first€responsibility€of€Governments,€he€said€that€heÐ ™Å Ðcontinued€to€be€concerned€about€the€application€of€the€norms€of€the€CovenantÐ `Œ Ðin€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€and€the€status€of€the€Covenants€in€IranianÐ 'S Ðlaw.€€According€to€paragraph6€of€the€Iranian€report€(CCPR/C/28/Add.15),€theÐ î Ðprovisions€of€the€Covenant€were€incorporated€in€the€Constitution€as€well€as€inÐ µá Ðother€laws€and€put€into€force€accordingly.€€Yet€the€statements€made€byÐ |¨ ÐMr.Mehrpour€at€the€1193rd€and€1194thmeetings€of€the€CommitteeÐ Co Ð(CCPR/C/SR.1193,€para.15€and€CCPR/C/SR.1194,€para.46)€seemed€to€indicate€aÐ  6 Ðmisunderstanding.€€To€say€that€the€principles€of€the€Covenant€wereÐ Ñý Ðincorporated€in€the€Constitution€was€to€say€that€the€Constitution€as€suchÐ ˜Ä Ðcorresponded€to€the€Covenant;€but€it€did€not€necessarily€follow€that€theÐ _‹ ÐCovenant€was€made€part€of€the€constitutional€law€of€the€land.€€Similarly,€theÐ &R Ðfact€that€the€Covenant€was€part€of€the€legislation€did€not€mean€that€itsÐ í Ðprovisions€were€applied.€€In€the€light€of€the€discussions€between€theÐ ´à  ÐCommittee€and€the€Iranian€delegation,€he€continued€to€have€doubts€on€thatÐ {§! Ðscore.€Ð Bn" ÐÌ23.à b àClearly,€where€there€was€a€conflict€between€domestic€law€and€theÐ Ð ü$ Ðinternational€legal€obligations€of€States,€international€obligations€mustÐ —!Ã% Ðprevail.€€In€his€view,€article154€of€the€Iranian€Constitution,€with€itsÐ ^"Š& Ðreference€to€the€attainment€of€"truth",€further€contributed€to€thatÐ %#Q' Ðmisunderstanding;€for€the€concept€of€truth€was€open€to€interpretation,€and€aÐ ì#( ÐGovernment's€conception€of€truth€might€differ€from€that€of€the€Covenant.€Ð ³$ß) ÐArticle154€concluded€with€the€statement€that€the€Islamic€Republic€of€IranÐ z%¦ * Ð"...supports€the€just€struggles€of€the€òòmustad'afunóó€[oppressed]€against€theÐ A&m!+ Ðòòmustakbirunóó€[arrogant]€in€every€corner€of€the€globe".€€That€statement€perhapsÐ '4", Ðlay€at€the€root€of€a€divergence€of€views€that€he€hoped€could€be€bridged€in€theÐ Ï'û"- Ðcourse€of€future€dialogue;€for€no€one€country€could€claim€to€have€a€monopolyÐ –(Â#. Ðof€the€truth.Ð ])‰$/ ÐÌ24.à b àWith€regard€to€the€application€of€the€various€articles€of€the€Covenant€inÐ ë*&1 Ðthe€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran,€he€still€believed€that€some€of€those€articlesÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðwere€not€being€fully€and€correctly€implemented.€€Furthermore,€the€overallÐ y,¥'3 Ðsituation€with€regard€to€human€rights€was€not€encouraging.€€The€latest€reportÐ @-l(4 Ðof€Mr.€GalindoPohl,€Special€Representative€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights,Ð Ô Ð(E/CN.4/1993/41),€as€well€as€GeneralAssembly€resolution47/146€and€CommissionÐ ›Ç Ðon€Human€Rights€resolution1993/62,€referred€in€particular€to€the€high€numberÐ bŽ Ðof€executions,€cases€of€torture€and€cruel,€inhuman€or€degrading€treatment€orÐ )U Ðpunishment,€the€standard€of€the€administration€of€justice,€the€lack€ofÐ ð Ðguarantees€of€due€process€of€law,€discriminatory€treatment€of€certain€groupsÐ ·ã Ðof€citizens,€notably€the€Baha'is,€by€reason€of€their€religious€beliefs,€andÐ ~ ª Ðrestrictions€on€the€freedoms€of€expression,€thought,€opinion€and€the€press.€Ð E q ÐThe€situation€of€women€also€left€much€to€be€desired.€€He€shared€thoseÐ  8 Ðconcerns,€particularly€with€regard€to€the€reports€about€the€treatment€of€theÐ Ó ÿ  ÐBaha'i€community:€€where€treatment€of€religious€and€other€minorities€wasÐ š Æ  Ðconcerned,€he€was€obliged€to€say€that€the€Iranian€Government€was€seriouslyÐ a   Ðdisregarding€its€obligations€under€the€Covenant.Ð (T  ÐÌ25.à b àLastly,€concerning€the€SalmanRushdie€affair,€Mrs.Higgins€had€clearlyÐ ¶â  Ðanalysed€the€legal€situation€with€regard€to€article19;€and€the€Committee€onÐ }©  ÐEconomic,€Social€and€Cultural€Rights€had€clearly€stated€that€in€the€case€ofÐ Dp  Ðsuch€a€òòfatwaóó€issued€by€the€religious€authorities,€State€responsibility€wasÐ  7  Ðincurred€when€the€State€did€not€take€whatever€measures€were€available€to€it€toÐ Òþ  Ðremove€clear€threats€to€the€rights€applicable€in€the€Islamic€Republic€of€IranÐ ™Å Ðin€consequence€of€its€ratification€of€the€Covenant.Ð `Œ ÐÌ26.à b àòòMiss€CHANETóó€thanked€the€Iranian€delegation€for€breaking€its€lengthyÐ î Ðsilence€in€order€to€resume€its€dialogue€with€the€Committee.€€It€had€to€beÐ µá Ðsaid,€however,€that€the€participants€in€that€dialogue€seemed€frequently€to€beÐ |¨ Ðtalking€at€cross„purposes.€€Members€of€the€Committee€had€posed€a€large€numberÐ Co Ðof€questions€regarding€almost€every€article€of€the€Covenant.€€She€herself€hadÐ  6 Ðspecifically€raised€the€questions€of€mass€executions€and€the€conditions€forÐ Ñý Ðpassing€the€death€sentence,€corporal€punishment,€the€right€of€appeal€to€theÐ ˜Ä ÐRevolutionary€Courts,€and€freedom€of€religion.€€Mr.Mehrpour€had€had€recourseÐ _‹ Ðto€four€basic€tactics€in€his€lengthy€replies.€Ð &R ÐÌ27.à b àFirstly,€he€had€affirmed€that€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€were€fullyÐ ´à  Ðrespected,€citing€various€legal€provisions€in€support€of€that€contention.€€ItÐ {§! Ðwas€to€be€noted,€however,€that€very€few€such€provisions€had€been€citedÐ Bn" Ðòòinextensoóó,€and€many€had€been€cited€selectively€in€order€to€draw€attention€toÐ  5# Ðlimitations€to€rights€and€freedoms€provided€for€therein.€€She€stressed€theÐ Ð ü$ Ðimportance€of€closely€analysing€laws€in€order€to€establish€whether€theirÐ —!Ã% Ðprovisions€were€in€conformity€with€the€Covenant€and€whether€any€restrictionsÐ ^"Š& Ðprovided€for€were€in€fact€necessary€in€order€to€respect€certain€very€preciseÐ %#Q' Ðparameters€stipulated€in€the€Covenant,€parameters€which,€furthermore,€differedÐ ì#( Ðfrom€article€to€article.€€Thus,€for€instance,€article18(3)€permittedÐ ³$ß) Ðlimitations€necessary€to€protect€order;€whereas€article€19€(3)€(b)€permittedÐ z%¦ * Ðrestrictions€necessary€for€the€protection€of€public€order.€€Such€limitationsÐ A&m!+ Ðcould€not€simply€be€invoked€as€a€justification€for€imposing€blanketÐ '4", Ðrestrictions.Ð Ï'û"- ÐÌ28.à b àSecondly,€Mr.€Mehrpour€had€referred€to€foreign€law€in€order€to€drawÐ ])‰$/ Ðparallels€with€Iranian€law.€€However,€the€analogy€he€had€drawn€with€French€lawÐ $*P%0 Ðwas€illusory,€since€the€references€he€had€made€to€doctrine€and€case€law€wereÐ ë*&1 Ðvalid€for€civil€law,€but€not€in€the€case€of€criminal€law,€interpretation€ofÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðâ âwhich€must€be€narrow€rather€than€extensive€„€òòa€fortiorióó€where€the€deathÐ y,¥'3 Ðpenalty€was€involved.€€There€was€no€analogy€with€situations€where€a€gapÐ Ô ÐÔ&  Ôâ âexisted€in€the€French€criminal€law:€€in€such€situations€the€law€was€notÐ ›Ç Ðapplicable,€since€higher€human€rights€principles€existed€that€had€beenÐ bŽ Ðintegrated€in€the€French€Constitution.Ð )U ÐÔ'›T`ÔÌ29.à b àThirdly,€Mr.€Mehrpour€had€evoked€the€provisions€of€Islamic€law,€oftenÐ ·ã Ðclaiming€that€his€country's€conceptions€were€shared€by€other€IslamicÐ ~ ª Ðcountries.€€However,€in€its€dealings€with€those€countries,€the€Committee€hadÐ E q Ðseen€that€they€had€been€able€to€reconcile€the€requirements€of€Islamic€law€withÐ  8 Ðthose€of€compliance€with€the€Covenant.Ð Ó ÿ  ÐÌ30.à b àIn€the€same€connection,€Mr.€Mehrpour€had€cited€Iranian€laws€in€order€toÐ a   Ðdemonstrate€that€they€conformed€with€the€Covenant,€and€had€then€gone€on€toÐ (T  Ðstate€that€Islamic€law€in€any€case€prevailed€over€the€Covenant.€€Thus,€on€theÐ ï  Ðquestion€of€women's€rights€he€had€explained€that€those€rights€were€guaranteedÐ ¶â  Ðunder€article€3€of€the€Covenant,€but€had€then€gone€on€to€explain€why€thoseÐ }©  Ðrights€could€not€in€fact€exist.€€He€also€claimed€that€women€themselves€wishedÐ Dp  Ðto€wear€traditional€clothing.€€However,€that€desire€must€be€moderate€in€theÐ  7  Ðextreme€if€the€authorities€needed€to€resort€to€death€sentences€and€raids€byÐ Òþ  Ðmilitia€in€order€to€secure€women's€compliance€with€that€requirement.€Ð ™Å ÐMr.Mehrpour€had€also€justified€certain€practices€by€referring€to€"the€natureÐ `Œ Ðof€women",€as€well€as€to€the€traditional€organization€of€society€and€theÐ 'S Ðfamily.€€It€seemed€to€her€that€the€latter€explanation€was€more€plausible€thanÐ î Ðthe€former.Ð µá ÐÌ31.à b àLastly,€Mr.€Mehrpour€had€questioned€the€competence€of€the€Committee€inÐ Co Ðthe€Rushdie€affair.€€However,€as€a€lawyer,€he€was€aware€that€questions€ofÐ  6 Ðcompetence€were€always€addressed€before€questions€of€substance.€€Even€if€hisÐ Ñý Ðviews€on€the€Rushdie€case€differed€from€those€of€the€Committee,€he€had€tacitlyÐ ˜Ä Ðrecognized€the€Committee's€competence€by€replying€to€some€of€its€questions.€€Ð _‹ ÐÌ32.à b àThe€proceedings€at€the€Committee's€forty„sixth,€forty„seventh€andÐ í Ðforty-eighth€sessions€showed€that€persons€not€adhering€to€the€current€regimeÐ ´à  Ðand€the€State€religion€were€not€entitled€to€the€enjoyment€of€their€rightsÐ {§! Ðunder€the€Covenant.€€The€Iranian€delegation's€explanations€had€failed€to€clearÐ Bn" Ðup€a€number€of€points€regarding€enforced€disappearances,€massive€executionsÐ  5# Ðand€torture€in€prisons.€€She€hoped€that€the€voice€of€the€independent€expertsÐ Ð ü$ Ðwould€make€itself€heard€in€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€and€beyond€itsÐ —!Ã% Ðborders;€and€that€the€State€party,€which€by€acceding€to€the€Covenant€hadÐ ^"Š& Ðagreed€to€subject€itself€to€the€scrutiny€of€the€treaty€body€provided€forÐ %#Q' Ðtherein,€would€not€continue€to€invoke€its€national€law€and€traditions€in€orderÐ ì#( Ðto€justify€violations€of€provisions€of€the€Covenant,€but€would€do€so€only€inÐ ³$ß) Ðorder€to€explain€the€context€in€which€those€provisions€were€implemented.Ð z%¦ * ÐÌ33.à b àòòMr.€LALLAHóó€assured€the€Iranian€delegation€that€it€was€not€alone€in€havingÐ '4", Ðits€report€subjected€to€detailed€scrutiny€by€the€Committee.€€One€reason€whyÐ Ï'û"- Ðmembers€had€put€so€many€questions€to€the€delegation€was€that,€although€theÐ –(Â#. Ðsecond€periodic€report€had€been€well€prepared,€it€had€laid€great€emphasis€onÐ ])‰$/ Ðthe€legal€structure€in€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran,€and€had€provided€veryÐ $*P%0 Ðlittle€information€on€the€actual€situation.€€However,€the€purpose€of€theÐ ë*&1 Ðexercise€was€to€gauge€to€what€extent€reality€conformed€to€the€provisions€ofÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðthe€Covenant.€€Mr.ElShafei€and€Mr.PradoVallejo€had€rightly€pointed€outÐ y,¥'3 Ðthat,€where€a€State€assumed€the€direction,€not€just€of€public€affairs,€butÐ @-l(4 Ðalso€of€religious€matters€and€of€the€link€between€the€two,€conflicts€mustÐ Ô Ðemerge€which€would€prove€hard€to€reconcile.€€He€welcomed€the€assurance€byÐ ›Ç ÐMr.Mehrpour€that€the€question€of€degrading€treatment€or€punishment€such€asÐ bŽ Ðmutilation€was€being€looked€into€in€order€to€see€whether€it€was€in€fact€inÐ )U Ðconformity€with€the€Covenant.€€Mr.Mehrpour€had€also€made€many€encouragingÐ ð Ðremarks€regarding€the€changing€role€of€women€in€Iranian€society.€€However,€heÐ ·ã Ðhad€made€no€reference€to€the€need€to€employ€more€women€in€various€positions€inÐ ~ ª Ðthe€judicial€branches,€recognized€in€paragraph11€of€document€CCPR/C/SR.1195,€Ð E q Ðor€to€the€possibility€that€women€would€be€admitted€to€the€Faculty€of€LawÐ  8 Ðduring€1993.€€Given€that€the€State€recognized€such€a€need,€should€it€not€takeÐ Ó ÿ  Ðmore€concrete€measures€in€that€regard,€such€as€giving€women€the€same€access€toÐ š Æ  Ðeducational€institutions€as€was€enjoyed€by€men?€€The€question€of€the€unequalÐ a   Ðtreatment€of€women€under€civil€law€should€also€be€further€explored.€€Why,€forÐ (T  Ðinstance,€were€women€not€regarded€as€the€equals€of€men€for€the€purposes€ofÐ ï  Ðgiving€evidence?€€Women€should€be€able€to€have€the€same€effective€enjoyment€ofÐ ¶â  Ðrights€as€men;€and,€as€Mr.Sadi€had€pointed€out,€Islam€and€the€CovenantÐ }©  Ðpointed€in€the€same€direction€in€that€regard,€since€both€sought€a€just€societyÐ Dp  Ðfor€all,€men,€women€and€children€alike.€€It€was€for€the€State€to€ensure€thatÐ  7  Ðthat€aim€was€secured.Ð Òþ  ÐÌ34.à b àSome€confusion€seemed€to€exist€concerning€the€question€of€religion,Ð `Œ Ðwhichhad€been€treated€as€if€it€related€only€to€article27.€€However,€theÐ 'S Ðprovisions€of€article18€held€good€for€the€majority€and€minorities€alike,Ð î Ðwhile€article27€referred€not€just€to€religious€minorities,€but€also€toÐ µá Ðlinguistic€and€ethnic€minorities.€€Those€minorities€enjoyed€special€rights,Ð |¨ Ðbut€were€also€entitled€to€the€enjoyment€of€all€the€other€rights€guaranteed€byÐ Co Ðthe€Covenant.€€Ð  6 ÐÌ35.à b àIn€conclusion,€he€assured€the€Iranian€delegation€that€members€of€theÐ ˜Ä ÐCommittee€served€in€an€individual€capacity,€and€were€not€influenced€byÐ _‹ Ðpolitical€considerations€when€subjecting€States€parties€to€scrutiny.€€TheÐ &R ÐCommittee€was€entitled€to€put€questions€regarding€reservations€entered€byÐ í ÐStates€parties,€and€to€urge€those€States€to€remove€them€in€the€light€of€theirÐ ´à  Ðadverse€impact€on€the€enjoyment€of€rights€and€freedoms.Ð {§! ÐÌ36.à b àòòMr.€MAVROMMATISóó€said€that€the€fact€that€the€delegation€of€the€IslamicÐ  5# ÐRepublic€of€Iran€had€been€requested€to€appear€three€times€before€the€CommitteeÐ Ð ü$ Ðreflected€the€latter's€concern€with€the€human€rights€situation€in€thatÐ —!Ã% Ðcountry.€€Although€some€of€the€delegation's€replies€had€lacked€specificity,€heÐ ^"Š& Ðrecognized€the€State€party's€desire€to€achieve€a€more€effective€dialogue,€aÐ %#Q' Ðdesire€which€had€been€clearly€apparent€since€the€delegation's€first€appearanceÐ ì#( Ðbefore€the€Committee.€€It€was€of€course€unthinkable€that€a€country€with€such€aÐ ³$ß) Ðhistory€and€culture€should€remain€outside€the€mainstream€of€internationalÐ z%¦ * Ðprogress.€€It€was€clear€however€that€discrimination€existed€in€regard€to€bothÐ A&m!+ Ðreligion€and€political€opinion€„€possibly€due€to€the€overriding€influence€ofÐ '4", ÐIslam.€€A€more€worrying€feature€was€the€unacceptably€high€number€of€deathÐ Ï'û"- Ðsentences€imposed.€€The€Covenant,€on€the€other€hand,€categorically€advocatedÐ –(Â#. Ðareduction€in€the€number€of€instances€of€capital€punishment,€thus€pavingÐ ])‰$/ Ðtheway€for€its€abolition€altogether.€€The€situation€in€regard€to€capitalÐ $*P%0 Ðpunishment€had€been€highlighted€by€an€incident,€reported€by€the€SpecialÐ ë*&1 ÐRepresentative€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights,€in€which€in€September€1992Ð ²+Þ&2 Ðaman€had€been€given€99€lashes€before€being€executed€(E/CN.4/1993/41,Ð y,¥'3 Ðpara.71).€€The€attempt€to€distinguish€between€religious€and€secularÐ @-l(4 Ðdecisions,€as€had€been€done€in€the€case€of€Salman€Rushdie,€could€not€possiblyÐ Ô Ðjustify€such€practices.€€Moreover,€there€could€be€no€question€of€challengingÐ ›Ç Ðthe€Committee's€competence€in€that€regard,€since€the€Committee€had€aÐ bŽ Ðresponsibility€to€examine€compliance€with€article€6€of€the€Covenant.Ð )U ÐÌ37.à b àIt€was€equally€clear€that€there€was€discrimination€in€the€IslamicÐ ·ã ÐRepublic€of€Iran€in€regard€to€religion€(article€18),€the€most€flagrant€caseÐ ~ ª Ðbeing€that€of€the€Baha'is,€who€were€treated€differently€from€members€of€theÐ E q Ðrecognized€religions,€namely€Jews,€Christians€and€Zoroastrians,€let€aloneÐ  8 Ðfromthe€majority€of€the€population€who€were€Muslims.€€Since€no€relevantÐ Ó ÿ  Ðreservation€had€been€made€at€the€time€of€accession€to€the€Covenant,€it€wasÐ š Æ  Ðincumbent€on€the€Iranian€Government€to€guarantee€the€rights€of€all€religiousÐ a   Ðminorities.Ð (T  ÐÌ38.à b àHe€had€been€impressed€by€the€concluding€remarks€made€at€the€beginning€ofÐ ¶â  Ðthe€current€meeting€by€Mr.€Mehrpour,€who€had€been€candid€and€had€furthermoreÐ }©  Ðasked€for€assistance€in€establishing€closer€relations€with€the€Committee.€Ð Dp  ÐFrom€the€date€of€its€inception,€the€Committee€had€always€steered€clear€ofÐ  7  Ðanyform€of€politicization€and€there€could€be€no€question€of€the€CommitteeÐ Òþ  Ðsingling€out€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€for€criticism.€€He€sincerely€hopedÐ ™Å Ðto€see€the€Iranian€delegation€again€in€the€near€future.€€He€warmly€welcomedÐ `Œ Ðthe€delegation's€wish€to€improve€the€dialogue€with€the€Committee,€but€he€hadÐ 'S Ðto€say€that€words€were€not€enough.Ð î ÐÌ39.à b àòòMrs.€EVATTóó€expressed€her€satisfaction€that€there€were€some€positiveÐ |¨ Ðdevelopments€to€be€recorded€in€regard€to€the€human€rights€situation€inÐ Co ÐtheIslamic€Republic€of€Iran.€€The€State€party€had€ratified€the€Covenant,Ð  6 Ðsubmitted€reports€and€participated€in€the€dialogue€with€the€Committee.€€TheÐ Ñý Ðdelegation€had€also€announced€that€certain€laws€would€be€examined€forÐ ˜Ä Ðcompatibility€with€the€Covenant,€various€forms€of€punishment,€such€asÐ _‹ Ðflogging,€would€be€reviewed€and€further€consideration€would€be€given€to€theÐ &R Ðstatus€of€women.€€Iran€had€made€no€formal€reservations€to€the€Covenant,€butÐ í Ðthere€was€unfortunately€an€implicit€condition€for€ratification,€the€fact€thatÐ ´à  Ðall€legislation€had€to€be€based€on€Islamic€criteria,€which€was€set€out€in€aÐ {§! Ðnumber€of€articles€of€the€Constitution.€€Islamic€criteria€were€also€a€sourceÐ Bn" Ðof€law€when€explicit€legal€provisions€were€lacking.€€Islam€was€a€great€worldÐ  5# Ðreligion€and€its€followers€were€themselves€protected€by€the€Covenant€and€byÐ Ð ü$ Ðthe€human€rights€principles€obtaining€in€many€countries.€€The€fact€that€in€theÐ —!Ã% ÐIslamic€Republic€of€Iran€religion€was€built€into€every€aspect€of€the€law€couldÐ ^"Š& Ðhowever€restrict€the€scope€of€the€guaranteed€rights€and€left€grey€areas€whereÐ %#Q' Ðcompatibility€with€the€Covenant€could€not€be€easily€tested€except€by€examiningÐ ì#( Ðactual€practice.Ð ³$ß) ÐÌ40.à b àThe€information€received€from€non„governmental€organizations€(NGOs)€andÐ A&m!+ Ðthat€contained€in€the€report€of€the€Special€Representative€(E/CN.4/1993/41)Ð '4", Ðstrongly€suggested€an€absence€of€conformity€with€the€Covenant.€€Many€specificÐ Ï'û"- Ðcases€had€been€cited€by€members€of€the€Committee,€and€on€more€than€oneÐ –(Â#. Ðoccasion€the€delegation€had€appeared€unwilling€to€respond€to€their€comments.€Ð ])‰$/ ÐIndividual€cases€were,€however,€often€very€revealing.€€One€specific€exampleÐ $*P%0 Ðwas€that€of€Mr.€Bahman€Samandari,€who€had€apparently€been€arrested€andÐ ë*&1 Ðexecuted€within€twodays;€it€was€hard€to€imagine€that€proper€and€fairÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðprocedures€could€have€been€followed€in€that€case.Ð y,¥'3 ÐÐ @-l(4 Ð41.à b àHer€specific€questions€regarding€Salman€Rushdie€and€the€òòfatwaóó,€theÐ Ô Ðapparent€persecution€of€the€Baha'i€community€and€the€status€of€women€had€beenÐ ›Ç Ðintended€to€bring€out€how€the€laws€were€applied€in€practice.€€They€had€notÐ bŽ Ðbeen€answered.€€The€universality€and€indivisibility€of€human€rights€hadÐ )U Ðrecently€been€reaffirmed€at€the€World€Conference€on€Human€Rights€and€nationalÐ ð Ðsystems€had€sooner€or€later€to€conform€to€internationally€accepted€standards.Ð ·ã ÐÌ42.à b àòòMr.€FODORóó€said€that€it€was€difficult€to€determine€whether€the€dialogueÐ E q Ðwith€the€State€party€had€been€a€useful€exercise€or€not.€€The€informationÐ  8 Ðfurnished€by€Mr.Mehrpour€had€certainly€given€the€Committee€a€better€idea€ofÐ Ó ÿ  Ðthe€human€rights€situation€in€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran,€but€he€had€notÐ š Æ  Ðsucceeded€in€convincing€the€Committee€that€the€rights€enshrined€in€theÐ a   ÐCovenant€were€effectively€guaranteed.€€A€number€of€issues€of€serious€concernÐ (T  Ðhad€been€identified€during€the€dialogue,€for€example,€the€frequent€impositionÐ ï  Ðof€capital€punishment,€execution€after€unfair€trial,€the€widespread€inflictionÐ ¶â  Ðof€torture,€cruel€and€inhuman€treatment€of€prisoners,€flogging€and€amputation,Ð }©  Ðthe€consistently€large€numbers€of€political€prisoners,€discriminatoryÐ Dp  Ðpractices€against€women,€religious€and€political€groups,€and€the€absence€ofÐ  7  Ðsafeguards€in€the€proceedings€of€the€Revolutionary€Courts.€€The€harshÐ Òþ  Ðtreatment€of€religious€sects€which€were€not€recognized€by€the€Government,€inÐ ™Å Ðparticular€the€Baha'i€community,€and€the€restriction€of€political€activitiesÐ `Œ Ðto€a€small€circle€of€authorized€groups€were€again€contrary€to€the€provisionsÐ 'S Ðof€the€Covenant.Ð î ÐÌ43.à b àThe€interpretation€given€by€the€State€party€to€article27€of€the€CovenantÐ |¨ Ðin€regard€to€the€guaranteed€rights€of€ethnic,€religious€or€linguisticÐ Co Ðminorities€was€certainly€not€that€normally€adopted€at€the€international€level.€Ð  6 ÐThe€emphasis€placed€on€the€equal€rights€of€all€Iranian€citizens€whenÐ Ñý Ðconsidering€the€situation€of€minorities€was€in€fact€a€means€of€concealingÐ ˜Ä Ðtheabsence€of€positive€measures€in€favour€of€minority€groups.€€In€connectionÐ _‹ Ðwiththe€treatment€of€minorities,€Mr.Mehrpour€had€drawn€attention€to€theÐ &R Ðunacceptable€events€occurring€in€Bosnia€and€Herzegovina€and€the€flagrantÐ í Ðviolations€of€human€rights€which€were€reported€from€that€country€every€day.€Ð ´à  ÐThe€Iranian€delegation€could€be€sure€that€those€violations€would€receive€fullÐ {§! Ðand€careful€consideration€by€the€Committee€at€the€appropriate€time.Ð Bn" ÐÌ44.à b àIn€conclusion,€he€expressed€the€hope€that€the€Iranian€delegation'sÐ Ð ü$ Ðwillingness€to€discuss€its€report€with€the€Committee€on€three€separateÐ —!Ã% Ðoccasions€signified€that€the€Committee's€comments€would€be€studied€„€andÐ ^"Š& Ðheeded„€by€the€competent€Iranian€authorities€in€the€future.Ð %#Q' ÐÌ45.à b àòòMrs.€HIGGINSóó€remarked€that€in€the€case€of€Iran€the€Committee€had€foundÐ ³$ß) Ðsome€difficulty€in€reconciling€the€State€in€its€normal€sense€and€the€spiritualÐ z%¦ * ÐState€as€represented€by€Islam.€€Where€issues€such€as€the€Covenant€wereÐ A&m!+ Ðconcerned,€clearly€the€overall€responsibility€of€the€State€should€beÐ '4", Ðparamount.Ð Ï'û"- ÐÌ46.à b àTaking€up€the€areas€of€greatest€concern€to€the€Committee€(in€the€orderÐ ])‰$/ Ðofthe€articles€of€the€Covenant),€she€drew€particular€attention€to€theÐ $*P%0 Ðunsatisfactory€situation€regarding€the€rights€of€women€(article€3),€especiallyÐ ë*&1 Ðin€matters€of€dress€and€lifestyle.€€Obviously€women€who€did€not€wish€to€changeÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðshould€not€be€forced€to€do€so,€but€it€was€quite€wrong€to€threaten€and€penalizeÐ y,¥'3 Ðthose€women€who€were€desirous€of€change.€€The€fact€remained€that€the€StateÐ @-l(4 Ðreligion€required€50€per€cent€of€the€population€to€dress€in€a€manner€whichÐ Ô Ðthey€did€not€necessarily€want€and€to€follow€a€lifestyle€which€they€would€notÐ ›Ç Ðnecessarily€choose.€€In€connection€with€the€right€to€life€(article€6),€she€wasÐ bŽ Ðstill€concerned€at€the€large€numbers€of€death€sentences.€€Mr.€Mehrpour€hadÐ )U Ðaccepted€at€the€previous€session€that€capital€punishment€should€be€reservedÐ ð Ðfor€the€most€serious€crimes,€but€had€insisted€on€the€State's€right€to€decideÐ ·ã Ðwhich€crimes€those€were.€€The€fact€that€that€category€apparently€includedÐ ~ ª Ðadultery,€corruption€on€earth€and€destabilization€of€society€cast€doubt,€inÐ E q Ðthe€Committee's€judgement,€on€the€criteria€adopted€for€selecting€which€crimesÐ  8 Ðshould€be€subject€to€the€death€sentence.€€The€next€outstanding€issue€wasÐ Ó ÿ  Ðthevarious€forms€of€corporal€punishment€inflicted€(article€7)€„€a€subjectÐ š Æ  Ðonwhich€the€Special€Representative€of€the€Commission€on€Human€Rights€hadÐ a   Ðexperienced€the€greatest€difficult€in€obtaining€precise€information.€Ð (T  ÐCompliance€with€article€14€was€still€far€from€satisfactory:€€the€chargesÐ ï  Ðbrought€were€vague€and€court€cases€rapidly€disposed€of.€€Although€she€welcomedÐ ¶â  Ðthe€information€on€the€speed€with€which€appeals€were€heard€and€on€the€numberÐ }©  Ðof€verdicts€which€had€been€overturned,€she€would€still€like€to€know€whichÐ Dp  Ðcategories€of€verdicts€had€been€overturned.€€It€appeared,€moreover,€that€theÐ  7  ÐSpecial€Representative€had€looked€at€the€same€figures€and€come€to€a€veryÐ Òþ  Ðdifferent€conclusion€from€the€delegation.€€The€area€of€greatest€concern€wasÐ ™Å Ðthat€of€trial€before€the€Revolutionary€Courts,€where€guarantees€of€theÐ `Œ Ðdefendant's€rights€were€seriously€reduced€both€in€law€and€in€reality.Ð 'S ÐÌ47.à b àMr.€Mehrpour,€after€declaring€that€a€person€could€not€be€punished€for€hisÐ µá Ðreligious€beliefs€(article€18),€had€argued€that€there€was€no€obligation€forÐ |¨ Ðthe€Government€to€recognize€any€particular€religion.€€The€requirement€underÐ Co Ðthe€Covenant€was,€however,€for€a€person€to€be€allowed€to€believe€what€heÐ  6 Ðwanted€to€believe€and€to€be€permitted€to€manifest€those€beliefs€in€public.€Ð Ñý ÐIthad€been€claimed€that€the€case€of€the€Baha'i€community€was€different:€€theÐ ˜Ä ÐBaha'is€were€permitted€to€hold€their€religious€beliefs€in€private,€but€theirÐ _‹ Ðpast€history€suggested€that€manifestation€of€their€beliefs€in€public€mightÐ &R Ðinvolve€problems€of€public€order.€€Imprecise€allegations€of€that€nature€didÐ í Ðnot,€in€her€view,€justify€a€denial€of€the€freedom€of€religion€„€still€less€aÐ ´à  Ðdenial€of€civil€rights.€€Furthermore,€what€had€been€said€about€digging€upÐ {§! Ðcemeteries€to€provide€green€spaces€was€positively€gruesome.€€Ð Bn" ÐÌ48.à b àIn€connection€with€article€19€and€specifically€the€Salman€Rushdie€case,Ð Ð ü$ ÐMr.€Mehrpour€had€questioned€the€competence€and€jurisdiction€of€the€CommitteeÐ —!Ã% Ðand€suggested€that€the€Committee€should€confine€itself€to€examining€theÐ ^"Š& Ðperiodic€reports€of€States€parties.€€She€wished€to€make€it€quite€clear€thatÐ %#Q' Ðthe€Committee's€primary€function€was€to€monitor€compliance€with€the€Covenant.€Ð ì#( ÐPeriodic€reports€normally€provided€a€sound€basis€for€that,€but€there€were€manyÐ ³$ß) Ðother€sources€of€information,€and€for€obvious€reasons€the€Committee€could€notÐ z%¦ * Ðconfine€itself€to€such€reports.€€The€Committee€had€accordingly€acted€entirelyÐ A&m!+ Ðproperly€in€the€case€in€question.Ð '4", ÐÌ49.à b àMr.€Mehrpour€had€declared€that€his€Government€had€accepted€the€provisionsÐ –(Â#. Ðof€the€Covenant€„€as€indeed€it€was€bound€to€do€„€but€that€the€Committee€had€toÐ ])‰$/ Ðaccept€a€measure€of€specificity€in€the€interpretation€of€how€the€provisions€ofÐ $*P%0 Ðthe€Covenant€would€be€carried€out.€€However,€while€the€specificity€principleÐ ë*&1 Ðcould€be€held€to€explain€different€means€of€guaranteeing€rights€in€differentÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðcountries,€it€could€never€justify€a€country€ignoring€altogether€the€existenceÐ y,¥'3 Ðof€those€rights.€€Since€equal€rights€for€men€and€women€were€required€under€theÐ @-l(4 ÐCovenant,€neither€religion€nor€customs€could€provide€grounds€for€denying€thoseÐ Ô Ðrights.€€Again,€cruel€or€inhuman€treatment€could€not€be€condoned€on€grounds€ofÐ ›Ç Ðspecificity.Ð bŽ ÐÌ50.à b àòòMr.€WENNERGRENóó€said€that€the€information€supplied€by€the€IranianÐ ð Ðdelegation€and€the€time€devoted€to€dialogue€with€the€Committee€were€evidenceÐ ·ã Ðof€the€delegation's€close€interest€in€the€subject€of€human€rights€and€itsÐ ~ ª Ðdesire€to€achieve€concrete€results.€€It€was€clear€that€the€State€party€was€notÐ E q Ðimplementing€the€Covenant€in€full.€€The€reason€for€that€was€again€clear:€€inÐ  8 ÐIran€the€Covenant€was€being€implemented€within€the€framework€of€the€IslamicÐ Ó ÿ  ÐShariah.€€Cruel€punishment,€for€example,€was€strictly€prohibited€by€theÐ š Æ  ÐCovenant,€but€was€in€conformity€with€the€Shariah.€€The€same€applied€to€theÐ a   Ðrestriction€of€the€freedom€of€religion,€while€many€other€examples€could€beÐ (T  Ðcited.€€In€other€words,€the€State€party€was€adopting€a€òòne€plus€ultraóó€doctrineÐ ï  Ðand€implementing€the€Covenant€up€to€a€certain€level€only.€€It€was€neverthelessÐ ¶â  Ðpossible€to€discern€some€progress€„€progress€in€procedures,€improvement€in€theÐ }©  Ðjudicial€system€and€advances€in€regard€to€the€freedom€of€expression€andÐ Dp  Ðequality€between€the€sexes.€€Progress€was€certainly€slow,€but€the€essentialÐ  7  Ðthing€was€that€progress€there€was.€€It€was€even€more€essential€that€it€shouldÐ Òþ  Ðcontinue.Ð ™Å ÐÌ51.à b àòòMr.€SADIóó,€noting€with€appreciation€the€seriousness€with€which€the€IranianÐ 'S Ðdelegation€had€approached€the€dialogue€in€the€course€of€three€sessions€of€theÐ î ÐCommittee,€suggested€that€a€number€of€the€difficulties€encountered€might€wellÐ µá Ðstem€from€mutual€misunderstandings-€of€questions€posed,€on€the€one€hand,€andÐ |¨ Ðof€answers€provided,€on€the€other.Ð Co ÐÌ52.à b àOne€certain€misunderstanding€by€Mr.€Mehrpour€which€he€wished€to€dispelÐ Ñý Ðatonce€was€that€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€had€been€singled€out€forÐ ˜Ä Ðparticularly€harsh€scrutiny€by€the€international€community,€and€in€a€senseÐ _‹ Ðvictimized€on€that€account.€€All€the€information€that€was€brought€out€ofÐ &R Ðthatcountry-€by€intergovernmental€bodies€as€well€as€by€NGOs-€pointed€toÐ í Ðtheharshness€of€the€situation€there;€as€for€victims,€the€figure€ofÐ ´à  Ð100,000executions€since€the€Revolution€spoke€for€itself,€as€did€theÐ {§! Ðstatistics€and€descriptions€of€detentions,€and€accounts€of€the€manner€inÐ Bn" Ðwhichwomen€were€treated.€€Did€that€not€illustrate€the€magnitude€of€theÐ  5# Ðproblem€and€justify€a€special€concern€in€the€outside€world,€not€least€in€theÐ Ð ü$ ÐHuman€Rights€Committee?€€Ð —!Ã% ÐÌ53.à b àThere€could€be€no€doubt€as€to€the€seriousness€of€the€human€rightsÐ %#Q' Ðsituation€in€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran,€but€the€very€negative€picture€mightÐ ì#( Ðin€some€measure€be€corrected,€in€the€first€place,€by€confidence-buildingÐ ³$ß) Ðmeasures€on€the€part€of€the€authorities:€€the€Committee€would€certainlyÐ z%¦ * Ðwelcome€clear€signs€of€an€effort,€for€example,€at€least€to€scale€down€theÐ A&m!+ Ðnumber€of€executions;€to€improve€the€conditions€of€detention;€to€ameliorateÐ '4", Ðthe€due€process€of€law€by€ensuring€the€fairness€of€trials;€to€demonstrateÐ Ï'û"- Ðgreater€tolerance€of€divergent€opinions;€and€to€reflect,€in€the€betterÐ –(Â#. Ðtreatment€of€women,€Islam's€progressive€stand€in€that€respect.€€Lastly,€andÐ ])‰$/ Ðmore€particularly€as€far€as€the€Committee€was€concerned,€Mr.€Mehrpour'sÐ $*P%0 Ðsuggestion€of€a€visit€to€his€country€by€some€of€its€members-€whether€womenÐ ë*&1 Ðormen-€might€indeed€be€explored€as€a€means€of€improving€reciprocalÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðcommunication.Ð y,¥'3 ÐÐ @-l(4 Ð54.à b àòòMr.€NDIAYEóó€commended€the€Iranian€delegation€on€its€evident€goodwill€andÐ Ô Ðpatience.€€Speaking€as€a€Muslim€from€a€country€that€was€90€per€cent€Muslim,€heÐ ›Ç Ðwished€to€point€out€that€Islam€counted€almost€1€thousand€million€followers€inÐ bŽ Ðover€50€States.€€Islam€signified€freedom:€€on€the€authority€of€the€Holy€KoranÐ )U Ðitself,€there€must€be€no€constraints€in€the€matter€of€religion.€€IslamÐ ð Ðsignified€intellectual€progress:€€for€it€was€written€in€the€Koran€that€oneÐ ·ã Ðshould€travel€as€far€as€China,€if€need€be,€in€quest€of€science.€€Islam€hadÐ ~ ª Ðintroduced€the€socially€progressive€notion€of€marriage;€and€it€should€be€notedÐ E q Ðthat€the€Koran€looked€on€polygamy€with€some€disfavour.€€Islam,€as€a€religion,Ð  8 Ðcommanded€observance€both€in€letter€and€in€spirit;€but€it€was€also€subject€toÐ Ó ÿ  Ðthe€usage€and€customs€prevailing€in€the€different€countries;€and€had€indeed,Ð š Æ  Ðsince€its€very€beginnings,€been€affected€by€political€concerns.€€But€what€heÐ a   Ðwished€to€stress€above€all,€in€the€present€context,€was€the€essentially€socialÐ (T  Ðcharacter€of€the€Koran,€and€more€especially€the€pardon€which€it€announced€ofÐ ï  Ðoffences€against€God,€but€not€of€offences€against€one's€fellows.€€MutualÐ ¶â  Ðrespect€was€indeed€central€to€the€Koran's€teaching.Ð }©  ÐÌ55.à b àThe€initial€Iranian€report€to€the€Committee€(CCPR/C/1/Add.58),Ð  7  Ðsubmittedin€April€1982,€had€contained€the€following€statement:€€"It€must€beÐ Òþ  Ðacknowledged€that€in€a€Revolutionary€society€in€which€all€former€criteria€andÐ ™Å Ðrules€are€reversed,€much€time€is€needed€to€establish€a€new€order.€€This€isÐ `Œ Ðnatural€and€ordinary€in€any€revolution.€€For€this€very€reason€and€in€order€toÐ 'S Ðsee€us€through€this€critical€period,€the€Leader€of€the€Revolution€declared€theÐ î Ðyear€1360€(1981)€as€the€Year€of€the€Law€and,€in€his€orders€and€edicts,Ð µá Ðinstructed€all€to€comply€with€laws€and€protect€the€rights€of€individuals."Ð |¨ ÐÌ56.à b àRemarking€that€the€Covenant€asked€for€no€more€than€the€implementation€ofÐ  6 Ðthat€instruction,€he€recalled€that,€reporting€to€the€Committee€some€10€yearsÐ Ñý Ðlater,€in€October€1992€(CCPR/C/SR.1194,€paras.€44€and€45),€the€IranianÐ ˜Ä Ðdelegation€had€further€stated€that€"Under€the€Islamic€system,€laws€andÐ _‹ Ðregulations€were€not€immutable€but€could€be€amended€to€keep€pace€with€changingÐ &R Ðcircumstances",€that€"it€did€happen€that€certain€laws€were€not€entirely€inÐ í Ðaccordance€with€the€precepts€of€Islam",€but€that€"the€adjustment€of€thoseÐ ´à  Ðprecepts€to€the€conditions€of€modern€society€was€entrusted€to€theologiansÐ {§! Ðandcompetent€experts,€who€could€make€recommendations€for€amending€theÐ Bn" Ðlegislation".€€The€delegation€had€added€that€"the€Guardian€Council,€set€upÐ  5# Ðunder€article€91€of€the€Constitution€and€composed€of€theologians,€examined€theÐ Ð ü$ Ðparticular€circumstances€of€the€modern€era€and€pronounced€on€Islamic€rulesÐ —!Ã% Ðwhich€should€be€modified€or€annulled€because€of€developments€in€theÐ ^"Š& Ðsituation".€€According€to€the€delegation,€"A€number€of€problems€had€beenÐ %#Q' Ðresolved€and€many€difficulties€overcome€thanks€to€dialogue,€the€exchange€ofÐ ì#( Ðnew€ideas,€and€expert€analyses€designed€to€formulate€new€rules€that€wereÐ ³$ß) Ðbetter€adapted€to€the€modern€age".€€In€his€concluding€statement€at€theÐ z%¦ * Ðbeginning€of€the€current€meeting,€Mr.€Mehrpour€had€further€called€upon€theÐ A&m!+ ÐCommittee€to€assist€in€adapting€Iranian€legislation€and€practice€to€theÐ '4", Ðprovisions€of€the€Covenant.€€Other€members€of€the€Committee€had€pointedÐ Ï'û"- Ðextensively,€and€sometimes€with€significant€insistence,€to€all€the€manyÐ –(Â#. Ðinstances€of€discord€between€the€Covenant€and€what€was€happening€in€theÐ ])‰$/ ÐIslamic€Republic€of€Iran.€€For€his€part,€he€would€only€urge€the€IranianÐ $*P%0 Ðauthorities€to€pursue€„€perhaps€with€a€little€more€speed,€given€the€distanceÐ ë*&1 Ðthat€must€be€covered€„€the€course€of€action€delineated€in€the€statements€toÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðwhich€he€had€just€referred.Ð y,¥'3 ÐÐ @-l(4 Ð57.à b àAccording€to€the€Holy€Koran,€the€human€being€was€a€Divine€creation.€Ð Ô ÐRespect€for€one's€fellow„beings,€irrespective€of€belief,€social€origin,€raceÐ ›Ç Ðor€sex,€was€thus€the€first€and€essential€means€of€serving€God.€€Respect€forÐ bŽ Ðhuman€rights€signified€no€less€than€the€negation€of€all€forms€of€oppressionÐ )U Ðofman€by€man;€the€Iranian€Constitution€suggested€as€much,€indicating€thatÐ ð Ðsubmission€must€be€to€God's€commands.€€It€might€be€added€that€submission€toÐ ·ã ÐGod's€commands€must€be€voluntary:€€for€another€human€being€to€obtain€suchÐ ~ ª Ðsubmission€by€force€would€be€contrary€to€the€Divine€teachings.Ð E q ÐÌ58.à b àThere€was€no€fundamental€incompatibility€between€Islam€and€human€rights;Ð Ó ÿ  Ðit€was€the€duty€of€every€Muslim€to€strive€constantly€for€the€improvement€andÐ š Æ  Ðenhancement€of€respect€for€others;€respect€for€others€included€respect€forÐ a   Ðtheir€very€difference.Ð (T  ÐÌ59.à b àòòMr.€FRANCISóó€said€that€there€could€be€no€doubt€as€to€the€seriousÐ ¶â  Ðshortcomings€with€regard€to€the€application€of€the€Covenant€by€the€StateÐ }©  Ðparty:€€that€was€principally€due€to€policy€decisions€at€the€highest€levels.€Ð Dp  ÐHe€earnestly€hoped€that€the€Iranian€authorities€would€realize€that€theÐ  7  Ðinternational€community€had€embarked€on€a€path€of€peace€whose€goal€was€theÐ Òþ  Ðtotal€economic,€political,€social€and€cultural€fulfilment€of€humankind,€andÐ ™Å Ðthat€such€a€goal€could€only€be€attained€when€individual€nations€were€at€peaceÐ `Œ Ðwith€themselves.Ð 'S ÐÌ60.à b àAs€he€had€remarked€at€the€previous€meeting,€there€remained€a€hard€core€ofÐ µá Ðdifference€between€Iran€and€the€Committee€with€respect€to€the€implementationÐ |¨ Ðof€the€Covenant€in€the€area€of€religion.€€Nevertheless,€there€was€room€forÐ Co Ðoptimism:€€firstly€because€of€the€tenor€of€Mr.€Mehrpour's€closing€remarks;Ð  6 Ðsecondly,€because€there€was€more€in€common€between€the€Committee€and€theÐ Ñý Ðdelegation€than€divided€them;€thirdly,€and€most€importantly,€because€theÐ ˜Ä Ðteachings€of€Allah€shared€so€much€with€those€of€other€established€religions.Ð _‹ ÐÌ61.à b àThe€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran,€like€all€the€other€States€parties€to€theÐ í ÐCovenant,€was€under€an€obligation€to€implement€its€provisions.€€He€was€in€noÐ ´à  Ðdoubt€as€to€the€commitment€of€all€the€members€of€the€Iranian€delegation€toÐ {§! Ðassist€in€ensuring€that€their€country,€with€internal€peace€restored,€joinedÐ Bn" Ðthe€world€community€as€soon€as€possible€in€moving€ahead.Ð  5# ÐÌ62.à b àòòMr.€PRADO€VALLEJOóó,€after€joining€in€the€expressions€of€appreciation€ofÐ —!Ã% ÐMr.Mehrpour's€contribution€to€what€he€had€found€to€be€an€interesting€andÐ ^"Š& Ðmutually€informative€dialogue,€voiced€regret€that€Iran's€renown€as€a€greatÐ %#Q' Ðcountry€and€a€major€contributor€to€world€history€had€been€sullied€„€even€inÐ ì#( Ðhis€own€and€other€distant€Latin€American€countries€„€by€its€present€humanÐ ³$ß) Ðrights€record.Ð z%¦ * ÐÌ63.à b àIt€was€clear€that€serious€ground€for€concern€persisted,€notably€becauseÐ '4", Ðof€the€major€divergencies€between€Iranian€legislation€and€the€provisions€ofÐ Ï'û"- Ðthe€Covenant€(in€contradiction€with€its€art.€2),€and€between€declared€normsÐ –(Â#. Ðand€actual€practice€„€religious€discrimination,€especially€with€regard€to€theÐ ])‰$/ ÐBaha'is,€was€one€outstanding€example.€€There€was€all€too€much€evidence€thatÐ $*P%0 Ðthe€due€process€of€law€was€not€being€secured,€particularly€in€regard€to€theÐ ë*&1 Ðright€of€the€accused€to€be€defended€by€counsel.€€The€existence€and€the€scaleÐ ²+Þ&2 Ðof€application€of€the€death€penalty€„€compounded,€as€in€the€matter€ofÐ y,¥'3 ÐSalmanRushdie,€by€extraterritorial€persecution€„€constituted€a€flagrantÐ @-l(4 Ðviolation€of€the€State€party's€commitment€under€the€Covenant€to€protect€theÐ Ô Ðright€to€life.€€Notwithstanding€Mr.€Mehrpour's€claim€to€the€contrary,€thoseÐ ›Ç Ðwere€certainly€issues€that€rightfully€fell€within€the€Committee's€sphere€ofÐ bŽ Ðcompetence.€€Summary€executions€and€the€appalling€treatment€of€detainees,Ð )U Ðincluding€torture€(no€country€could€honestly€claim€to€be€innocent€in€thatÐ ð Ðrespect,€but€some€were€far€more€willing€to€investigate€allegations),€were€alsoÐ ·ã Ðmatters€of€profound€anxiety€to€the€Committee.€€Freedom€of€the€press€left€muchÐ ~ ª Ðto€be€desired;€the€rights€of€minorities€and€the€rights€of€women€were,€at€best,Ð E q Ðrestricted.€€Above€and€beyond€all€those€specific€concerns€there€lay€theÐ  8 Ðuncertainty€as€to€the€authority€of€the€Covenant€in€relation€to€Islamic€law.Ð Ó ÿ  ÐÌ64.à b àHe€could€only€hope€that€the€substance€of€the€exchange€that€had€takenÐ a   Ðplace€would€be€duly€conveyed€to€the€Iranian€authorities,€and€that€theÐ (T  ÐCommittee's€very€real€concerns€would€be€taken€into€account€in€a€serious€reviewÐ ï  Ðof€the€situation,€so€that€a€genuine€start€might€be€made€on€the€path€towardsÐ ¶â  Ðthe€reforms€whereby€the€conformity€between€the€provisions€of€the€Covenant€andÐ }©  ÐIranian€legislation€that€was€so€conspicuously€lacking€might€be€brought€aboutÐ Dp  Ðas€soon€as€possible.Ð  7  ÐÌ65.à b àòòMr.€BRUNI€CELLIóó€said€that€previous€speakers€had€voiced€what€would€haveÐ ™Å Ðbeen€virtually€all€his€own€concluding€observations.€€It€merely€remainedÐ `Œ Ðforhim,€therefore,€to€respond€vigorously€to€Mr.€Mehrpour's€insinuationÐ 'S Ðthatmembers€of€the€Committee€had€been€unjust€in€some€of€their€questions.€Ð î ÐHestressed€that,€for€his€part,€his€inquiries€had€been€based€on€serious,Ð µá Ðobjective€and€reliable€reports€by€authorities€within€as€well€as€externalÐ |¨ Ðtothe€United€Nations€system;€the€figures€and€cases€he€had€cited,€notablyÐ Co Ðwithregard€to€enforced€disappearances€and€to€the€execution€ofÐ  6 ÐMr.BahmanSamandari,€had€been€substantiated€beyond€all€possible€doubt:€Ð Ñý Ðhehad€invented€nothing.Ð ˜Ä ÐÌ66.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€said€that€he€had€personally€been€encouraged€by€the€assuranceÐ &R Ðthat€the€views€of€members€of€the€Committee,€together€with€the€Committee'sÐ í Ðcomments,€would€be€conveyed€to€the€Iranian€authorities€for€careful€scrutiny.Ð ´à  ÐÌ67.à b àReference€had€been€made€during€the€dialogue€to€diversity€and€specificityÐ Bn" Ðwhere€religions,€cultures€or€peoples€were€concerned.€€He€himself€would€contendÐ  5# Ðthat€there€was€far€more€in€common€between€individuals€than€separated€them;Ð Ð ü$ Ðhuman€rights€were€the€bedrock€on€which€the€guarantees€that€should€be€enjoyedÐ —!Ã% Ðby€each€and€every€human€being€must€be€constructed.€€Islam€was€unquestionably€aÐ ^"Š& Ðgreat€religion;€equally€unquestionably,€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€had€aÐ %#Q' Ðgreat€culture€and€the€potential€to€ensure€the€full€development€of€all€who€cameÐ ì#( Ðunder€the€Government's€authority.€€He€looked€forward€to€the€realization€ofÐ ³$ß) Ðthat€potential.Ð z%¦ * ÐÌ68.à b àòòMr.€MEHRPOURóó€(Islamic€Republic€of€Iran)€said€that€he€had€listenedÐ '4", Ðattentively€to€the€concluding€observations€by€the€members€of€the€Committee,€toÐ Ï'û"- Ðwhom€he€was€grateful€for€their€demonstration€of€understanding€and€goodwill€andÐ –(Â#. Ðfor€the€various€expressions€of€encouragement€that€had€been€voiced.€€He€veryÐ ])‰$/ Ðmuch€hoped€that,€notwithstanding€the€note€of€scepticism€that€had€also€beenÐ $*P%0 Ðsounded,€the€dialogue€would€be€pursued,€and€to€constructive€ends.Ð ë*&1 ÐÌâ âÐ y,¥'3 Ð69.à b àHe€reiterated€the€determination€of€the€Iranian€authorities€to€promote,Ð Ô Ðâ âòòinter€aliaóó,€the€entry€of€women€into€the€magistrature€(legal€obstacles€to€whichÐ ›Ç Ðhad€now€been€removed),€as€well€as€other€professions,€notably€medicine;€he€wasÐ bŽ Ðsure€that€if€Committee€members€of€either€sex€were€to€visit€his€country,€theirÐ )U Ðcomments€and€advice,€like€that€of€other€United€Nations€specialists€and€expertÐ ð Ðvisitors€who€had€already€done€so,€thereby€joining€in€what€indeed€wereÐ ·ã Ðconfidence-building€measures,€would€be€appreciated.Ð ~ ª ÐÌ70.à b àòòThe€CHAIRMANóó€said€that€consideration€of€the€second€periodic€report€of€theÐ  8 ÐIslamic€Republic€of€Iran€was€concluded.Ð Ó ÿ  ÐÌÌà@éé&“àòòThe€meeting€rose€at€6.05€p.m.óóˆÐ (T  ÐÌà0 b àÐ bü#bü# Ð