Appointment of Mai Sato as Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran; A Repetition of a Failed Scenario

While the Islamic Republic of Iran has always expressed its opposition to the process of appointing the so-called Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights and has emphasized that this action by the UN Human Rights Council is rooted in political work and anti-Iranian politicking, Mai Sato, the seventh so-called UN Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights in Iran, began her mission on August 1, 2024 by publishing a purported message promising to participate in constructive dialogues and impartial assessments.

In a message to begin her mission, which was posted on the X social network, Sato expressed her appreciation for what she called the tireless efforts of Javed Rahman, the so-called UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran.

A look back at the past few months since the beginning of Mai Sato’s activities as the so-called UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran reveals a historical fact; like her predecessors and contrary to the promises made at the beginning of her activities, Sato has put politicization and blackening of the Iranian issue on her agenda.

This so-called UN rapporteur expressed concern, citing unfounded and biased reports by a group of figures known for their hostility to Iran and their adoption of anti-Iranian approaches regarding some of the non-interventionist events in our country.

This is despite the fact that the High Council for Human Rights and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have repeatedly stated that such positions are a clear interference in Iran’s judicial jurisdiction and attempts to continue politicizing and using the issue of human rights as a tool.

Sato has shown that she is determined to follow the path of hes predecessors, that is, ignoring official Iranian reports and citing baseless reports to use human rights as a tool during his so-called mission.

In this regard, Zohreh Elahiyan, former head of the Human Rights Committee of the National Security Commission of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, said in an interview with Mizan, referring to Iran’s experience during the working periods of Javed Rahman and Ahmad Shahid, the so-called UN special rapporteurs: Javed Rahman and Ahmad Shahid had a political and biased view of the Islamic Republic of Iran instead of a legal view, and instead of communicating and establishing dialogue, they tried to prepare their reports unilaterally and under the influence of the opposition abroad and hostile groups; They never paid attention to the reports of the Islamic Republic of Iran that were presented to them in a documented manner or to the fair reports of Iranian NGOs; this is a source of disappointment for human rights mechanisms.

The human rights expert said: The practice of the United Nations and human rights mechanisms in the issue of Iran is that instead of communication, dialogue and positive and constructive interaction, they turn to political biases, and these biases do not advance anything.

According to her, the enemies of the Islamic Republic tried to challenge Iran by proposing empty slogans centered on women and had a grand plan for their sinister goals by covering up seemingly beautiful slogans; behind these slogans on women's rights were the spy services and financial assistance of the US Congress and the Zionist regime to break the resistance of the Iranian nation, but the Iranian nation, especially Iranian women, realized the emptiness of these slogans.

Elahiyan also stated that appointing a woman as the so-called UN Special Rapporteur on Iran is part of a scenario that the enemies are focusing on the rights of Iranian women, and stated: Appointing a female rapporteur to carry out the mission of examining the human rights situation in Iran within this framework is a failed scenario.

The former head of the Human Rights Committee of the Islamic Consultative Assembly stated: The issue of human rights has become a dirty and meaningless issue worldwide today; the nations of the world see the crimes of the Zionist regime in Gaza, but human rights organizations have remained silent about these crimes; positive steps must be taken to restore human rights; Gaza and Palestine are a great test for the world's human rights organizations and mechanisms.