DATE=4/2/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-247559
TITLE=U-N RIGHTS IRAN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: A UNITED NATIONS SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR SAYS THE IRANIAN 
GOVERNMENT IS MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD BUILDING WHAT HE CALLS A 
"MORE TOLERANT SOCIETY."  BUT, HE SAYS, IT WILL TAKE A LONG TIME 
BEFORE ANYTHING RESEMBLING A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY EMERGES.  LISA 
SCHLEIN IN GENEVA SAYS THE INVESTIGATOR'S REPORT HAS BEEN 
SUBMITTED TO THE U-N HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.

TEXT:  THE U-N INVESTIGATOR, CANADIAN LAWYER MAURICE COPITHORNE, 
SAYS IRANIAN PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI IS TRYING TO CREATE A 
MORE TOLERANT SOCIETY BASED ON THE RULE OF LAW AND RECOGNITION OF
HUMAN RIGHTS.  BUT, HE SAYS PROGRESS IS FRUSTRATINGLY SLOW 
BECAUSE PRESIDENT KHATAMI IS MEETING STIFF RESISTANCE FROM 
GOVERNMENT HARDLINERS.

                      ///COPITHORNE ACT///

         THIS PASSAGE TO THIS OBJECTIVE IS BEING A DIFFICULT ONE.
         IT'S UNDERWAY, IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS.  AND, IT WILL BY
         ALL APPEARANCES TAKE SOME YEARS BEFORE EVEN THE MINIMUM 
         OBJECTIVES THAT THE PRESIDENT (KHATAMI) HAS SET ARE 
         ACHIEVED IN A QUANTIFIABLE SENSE.

                          ///END ACT///

THE U-N INVESTIGATOR SAYS IRAN IS MAKING SOME PROGRESS IN THE 
AREA OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.  HE NOTES DEMOCRACY IS APPEARING, 
ESPECIALLY IN LOCAL ELECTIONS, WHERE WOMEN HAVE RECENTLY RUN AND 
WERE ELECTED TO OFFICE.  ALTHOUGH THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT 
DIRECTION, HE SAYS WOMEN HAVE A VERY LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE THEY 
ACHIEVE FULL EQUALITY WITH MEN. 

THE U-N INVESTIGATOR SAYS HE KEEPS RECEIVING REPORTS OF TORTURE, 
DISAPPEARANCES AND OF SUSPICIOUS DEATHS OF IRANIAN DISSIDENTS 
LIVING ABROAD. 

MR. COPITHORNE IS CALLING ON IRAN'S GOVERNMENT TO BRING TO TRIAL 
THOSE ACCUSED OF MURDERING SECULAR DISSIDENTS AND INTELLECTUALS 
IN IRAN BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER.  HE SAYS TIME IS RUNNING 
OUT.

                   ///SECOND COPITHORNE ACT///

         THERE ARE RUMORS ABOUT THE COUNTRY THAT SOME OF THE 
         ACCUSED HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY SO THAT 
         THEY WOULD ESCAPE TRIAL, ETC., ETC.  AND, THAT THE WAY 
         TO PUT THESE TO REST IS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO MOVE 
         FORWARD QUICKLY AND CLEARLY AND DEFINITIVELY ON ITS 
         COMMITMENT.

                          ///END ACT///

MR. COPITHORNE SAYS ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES CONTINUE TO 
BE OPPRESSED IN IRAN.  IN THE CASE OF THE BA-HAI RELIGIOUS 
MINORITY, HE SAYS THEIR SITUATION HAS IN MANY WAYS WORSENED.  HE 
OBSERVES THEY CONTINUE TO SUFFER FROM DISCRIMINATION AND 
PERSECUTION, INCLUDING ARBITRARY ARRESTS, RAIDS ON HOMES AND 
CONFISCATION OF PROPERTY.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/LS/PCF 

02-Apr-99 10:04 AM EST (1504 UTC)
NNNN

Source: Voice of America
.