Swiss deplore violence in Iran

Switzerland has been among the United Nations’ members to speak out against the violence that followed last year’s disputed election in Iran.

In comments addressed to the United Nations Human Rights Council, currently meeting in Geneva, it said freedom of expression and association should be guaranteed.

In a written declaration, the Swiss ambassador to the United Nations, Dante Martinelli, had these recommendations: modifying Iranian law to limit executions and abolishing the death penalty for young delinquents. He also called for stoning, beatings and amputations to be outlawed.

Freedom of expression and association should be allowed. “Switzerland deplores the use of excessive violence by security forces against the people carrying out this right. Those in charge of such acts of violence should come before the justice authorities,” said the text quoted on the Swiss News Agency.

Switzerland also underlined the importance of Iran stepping up its anti-discrimination and anti-torture measures.

Britain and France have been leading a call for an international probe into the post-election violence. Opposition groups claimed that the vote on June 12, 2009 that returned President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power was fraudulent.

Iran has rejected the demand for an investigation, which was made during the UN Human Rights Council’s first review of Iran’s rights record since the organisation was founded in 2006.

swissinfo.ch and agencies