BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

30/04/2009

"New" Human Rights in Belarus & Iran in 2009?

Michael Batiukov

Head of the judicial system of Iran visited Minsk and called on Belarus to give a new definition to terms human rights, freedom of speech, racism, discrimination, and terrorism.

Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi said at a meeting with Barys Batura, head of the National Assembly of Belarus:

"The hegemonic countries and colonialist countries misuse these terms and have turned them into an instrument of enforcing their will and interests upon other peoples. We and you must do our best to help all freedom-minded peoples to live how they want!" he noted.

Batura said in turn that Belarus regarded Iran as the most important and powerful country's partner in the Middle East and the Islamic world. "I think this visit will confirm our future serious work over legal basis of our cooperation," the speaker of the lower house of the parliament said.

In the morning April 29, 2009 Head of the Supreme Court of Belarus Valyantsin Sukala received an official delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran leaded by Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, head of the judicial system.

"Our guest told about peculiarities of the judicial system of Iran and expressed his hopes for more active cooperation between the two agencies," Zlata Hurynovich, press secretary of the Supreme Court said. "The parties discussed cooperation in the legal sector and set task for the future during the meeting."

After the negotiations in the Supreme Court a motorcade of six black Mercedeses drove to the Administration of Lukashenko. The Irani delegation plans to have meetings with the leadership of the Ministry of Justice and the Belarusian ruler.

According to the Russian Institute of Israel and Middle East Studies, Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi occupies an honourable place in the old guard of the power class. He has a title Seyyed meaning he refers to descendants of the prophet Muhammad. Shahroudi has been actively engaged in the public politics since 1999, when he became the head of the judicial system of Iran (one of the three branches of the government).

Shahroudi belongs to the so called Iraqi clan of the ruling Shia class of Iran.

It should be noted that Iran is second only after China in the number of capital punishments: in 2008, 226 people were executed. Public executions are very popular in the country, among them previously used stoning. In January 2008, Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi imposed a ban on public executions, expect for those approved by him "in case of social need".

Shahroudi holds a strong position on the Iran's nuclear program. He supports mastering the complete nuclear fuel cycle at any cost. According to the head of the judicial system, the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran should use all possible political and economic measures to achieve secure access to peaceful nuclear power.

Source:

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/100702

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