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Members of Congress call for special UN Human Rights Council session on Iran

Letter notes the “brutal and violent crackdown on peaceful protests, and other serious violations of freedoms, including women’s rights.”

The U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. Credit: U.N./Jean-Marc Ferré.
The U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. Credit: U.N./Jean-Marc Ferré.

Several members of Congress have sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield urging them to convene a special session of the U.N. Human Rights Council to discuss the human rights situation in Iran.

The Nov. 3 letter, signed by 17 members of Congress, notes the “brutal and violent crackdown on peaceful protests, and other serious violations of freedoms, including women’s rights in Iran.”

“It is critical that the U.S., the international community and the institutions intended to promote and protect human rights around the world not only continue to condemn the dire human rights situation in Iran, but also promote accountability and justice,” the letter asserted.

It further urged the U.S., the U.N. and the international community to work together to “shine a light on serious human rights violations in Iran.”

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