Spokesman describes UK under secretary's remarks as 'interfering', 'baseless'

EghtesadOnline: Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry Bahram Qasemi described the recent remarks about Iran made by the British Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Baroness Joyce Anelay as 'baseless', 'meddlesome' and 'malicious'.

News ID: ۷۷۳۴۹۱

25 January 2017

Qasemi condemned Ms. Anelay's remarks about the arrest of certain people in Iran, saying her claims were made as usual based on unreliable sources.

Qasemi stressed that Iran's Judiciary is an independent body which deals with the crimes and offenses according to its legal procedures, IRNA reported.

He further expressed regret and surpries that Britain with a black record of human rights considers itself as a promoter of the human rights in the world and advises others to follow the laws regarding that issue.

On the recent measures taken by the two countries towards bilateral relations, Qasemi said the recent UK officials' stance will damage the due atmosphere needed for promotion of Tehran-London ties.

Iran has always stressed that the use of human rights issues as a propaganda and political tool for putting pressure on the independent countries is ineffective in the present time, the senior diplomat noted.

Referring to the UK human rights record as full of dark points, Qasemi said violation of human rights on the pretext of fight against terrorism, lack of transparency at the courts dealing with the suspects in terrorist acts and violating the rights of refugees, migrants and immigrant workers particularly women and children are some parts of the violation of human rights in Britain.

Mounting air strikes on some regions in Syria that led to killing of the innocent people there and cooperating in annihilation and massacre of the Yemeni people by selling state-of-the-art weapons to Saudi Arabia in order to brutally kill the children in Yemen are only parts of the human rights violations by the UK.

Giving more examples of human rights violation in Britain, Qasemi pointed to the improper conditions in jails in that country, discrimination against minorities and the divisive policies on the Persian Gulf and the Middle East adopted by the UK officials to destabilize those regions.

He concluded that Iran sees unfounded claims about human rights of its nationals as interference in its internal affairs and does not accept them.