The US today boycotted a UN ceremony honoring Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, saying he was “involved in numerous, appalling human rights violations” and that the world organization should support the people of Iran, reported Reuters, quoted by dariknews.bg.
Hardliner Raisi, who was seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died after his helicopter crashed in bad weather in the mountains near Iran's border with Azerbaijan on May 19.
The 193-member UN General Assembly traditionally meets to pay tribute to any world leader who was a sitting head of state at the time of their death. During the 50-minute tribute to Raisi, speeches were made by representatives of countries and regional groups.
“The United States will not be attending today's UN tribute event for President Raisi in any way,” said the spokesman for the US Mission to the UN, Nate Evans. “Raisi was involved in numerous, appalling human rights violations, including the extrajudicial killings of thousands of political prisoners in 1988," he added.
“During his tenure, some of the worst human rights violations took place,”, Evans added.
As a young prosecutor in Tehran, Raisi was involved in a commission that was responsible for the execution of hundreds of political prisoners in the capital in 1988, as Iran's eight-year war with Iraq was drawing to a close, rights groups say.
Iran's UN mission in New York declined to comment on the US boycott of the ceremony.
In a brief statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the General Assembly that Raisi had led Iran at a difficult time for the country, the region and the world.
“The UN remains in solidarity with the Iranian people in their pursuit of peace, development and fundamental freedoms,” Guterres said.
Iran's Permanent Envoy to the UN, Amir Sayed Iravani, spoke of the “deep impact” of Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, who died in the same helicopter crash.
“They were not only figures of power but also a symbol of hope, resilience and the enduring power of good governance and diplomacy,”, Iravani told the General Assembly. “We remain committed to upholding the principles of peace, security, justice and multilateralism that they tirelessly supported,” he added.
The presidential elections, in which Raisi's successor will be chosen, are scheduled for June 28.
Hardliner Raisi, who was seen as a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, died after his helicopter crashed in bad weather in the mountains near Iran's border with Azerbaijan on May 19.
The 193-member UN General Assembly traditionally meets to pay tribute to any world leader who was a sitting head of state at the time of their death. During the 50-minute tribute to Raisi, speeches were made by representatives of countries and regional groups.
“The United States will not be attending today's UN tribute event for President Raisi in any way,” said the spokesman for the US Mission to the UN, Nate Evans. “Raisi was involved in numerous, appalling human rights violations, including the extrajudicial killings of thousands of political prisoners in 1988," he added.
“During his tenure, some of the worst human rights violations took place,”, Evans added.
As a young prosecutor in Tehran, Raisi was involved in a commission that was responsible for the execution of hundreds of political prisoners in the capital in 1988, as Iran's eight-year war with Iraq was drawing to a close, rights groups say.
Iran's UN mission in New York declined to comment on the US boycott of the ceremony.
In a brief statement, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the General Assembly that Raisi had led Iran at a difficult time for the country, the region and the world.
“The UN remains in solidarity with the Iranian people in their pursuit of peace, development and fundamental freedoms,” Guterres said.
Iran's Permanent Envoy to the UN, Amir Sayed Iravani, spoke of the “deep impact” of Raisi and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, who died in the same helicopter crash.
“They were not only figures of power but also a symbol of hope, resilience and the enduring power of good governance and diplomacy,”, Iravani told the General Assembly. “We remain committed to upholding the principles of peace, security, justice and multilateralism that they tirelessly supported,” he added.
The presidential elections, in which Raisi's successor will be chosen, are scheduled for June 28.