The same EU and UN voices who rushed to condemn the U.S. recognition of Israel’s capital as a flagrant violation of international law, supporting the emergency General Assembly resolution on “Illegal Israeli actions” which implicitly declared the U.S. decision “null and void”—have suddenly lost their voice when it comes to brave Iranians getting arrested, beaten, tear-gassed and shot for protesting their oppressor.
Immediately after the recent U.S. announcement about moving its embassy to Jerusalem, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini expressed “serious concern” saying that “the world is united in criticizing” the declaration. France’s President Macron spoke of “a regrettable decision that France does not approve of” and which “goes against international law” and “all the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council.” German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel called the move a “very dangerous development.”
At the UN, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke of his “great anxiety.” Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nikolay Mladenov said that the measure “could seriously undermine peace efforts” and cause “repercussions across the region.” High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid al-Hussein called the U.S. announcement “dangerously provocative,” and claimed it directly led to casualties resulting from Palestinian riots.
Yet when it came to Iran, the reaction from most of the EU and UN was silence for days, followed by the pathetic line that they are all “closely monitoring the situation,” mixed with mild expressions of concern, and typically a moral equivalency between the brave protesters and the oppressive regime.
United Nations
On Tuesday, after 6 days of silence, the UN finally spoke. The Deputy Spokesman said: “The Secretary‑General has been carefully following the reports of protests in a number of cities in Iran. We regret the reported loss of life, and we hope that further violence will be avoided. We expect that the rights to peaceful assembly and expression of the Iranian people will be respected.”
Even after we shamed U.N. Iran rights monitor Asma Jahangir to finally speak out after six days of silence, her tweet of “condolences” for Iranians arrested, beaten, tortured & killed is far weaker in its criticism or opposition to the Tehran regime’s brutality than, for example, her recent expression of outrage on the U.S. embassy move, which she called “extremely provocative,” saying it “will destroy” the peace process, and should be “vehemently opposed.”
Notably, Jahangir has failed to issue an official U.N. statement or press release on the Iran protests. Releases are sent out to world media and posted on the U.N. website, and can have potentially significant impact.
Iranian citizens have a right to unprovoked peaceful protest My condolences for the martyrs and urge end of violence
— AGHS Legal Aid Cell, Asma Jahangir's Law Firm (@Asma_Jahangir) January 2, 2018
Shifting embassies to Jerusalem is extremely provocative It will destroy all chances of a two State option It should be vehemently opposed
— AGHS Legal Aid Cell, Asma Jahangir's Law Firm (@Asma_Jahangir) December 5, 2017
“The European Union,” said Mogherini in a so-called Declaration that declared nothing, “is closely following the ongoing demonstrations in Iran, the increase of violence and the unacceptable loss of human lives…. The European Union will continue to monitor the situation.”
https://twitter.com/CatherineEUspox/status/947945834779463680
https://twitter.com/CatherineEUspox/status/947946035518824448
British foreign minister Boris Johnson said that the UK “is watching events in Iran closely.”
“We are following the protests in Iran very closely: both the actions of the demonstrators and the words of president Rohani,” Italian foreign minister Angelino Alfano stated late on Monday.
Pubblicato il: 02/01/2018 14:03 Italy is following Iran's escalating anti-government protests "very closely,"… https://t.co/vTRL1BjEXA
— Italianaradio (@italianaradio1) January 2, 2018
“The French authorities are closely following the situation in Iran,” according to a statement by a foreign ministry spokesman on Tuesday. “The right to protest freely is a fundamental right. The same is true of the free flow of information. France expresses its concern at the large number of victims and arrests,” he added.
Sweden’s FM is also “following” the demonstrations:
https://twitter.com/margotwallstrom/status/947402771950653440
