The Netherlands condemns police closure of human rights centre in Tehran

22 Dec 2008 | The Dutch government has condemned the Iranian police’s closure of the Tehran office of Shirin Ebadi, the human rights activist and 2003 Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Today, partly on the Netherlands’ initiative, the EU presidency has issued a declaration condemning the action and calling on the Iranian authorities to respect their international human rights commitments, reopen the office and provide the legal permit necessary for the centre to continue its activities.

Dr Ebadi’s organisation, the Centre for Defenders of Human Rights, was raided on 21 December, shortly before it was due to host a celebration marking the sixtieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The position of human rights activists in Iran is constantly under threat – a subject on which the EU, supported by the Netherlands, has consistently and repeatedly expressed its concern to the Iranian authorities, challenging them to fulfil their international obligations and respect the position of those who seek to defend human rights. The Dutch government is meanwhile keeping a close watch on the human rights situation in Iran. Within the framework of both the UN and the EU, and through direct contact, the Netherlands will continue to remind Iran of its responsibility for observing human rights and respecting the position of human rights defenders.

See also:  http://www.minbuza.nl/en/news/newsflashes,2008/12/The-Netherlands-condemns-police-closure-of-human-r.html