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<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14pt">December 20, 2006 <i>(4:30 p.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 162</span></span></span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">CANADA APPLAUDS UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY’S EXPRESSION OF
SERIOUS CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE IN IRAN</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency, today issued the following statement on the United
Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Resolution on the situation of human rights
in the Islamic Republic of Iran:</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">“Canada played a lead role in bringing forward this resolution and in ensuring its
adoption by the General Assembly, which sends an important signal to Iran’s oppressed
that they are not alone. In light of the gravity of the situation, Canada will continue to
work for the respect of human rights and rule of law in Iran, as well as elsewhere in the
world.</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">“Canada applauds the General Assembly’s expression of serious concern about the
deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. Iran must stop the practice of harassment,
intimidation and persecution of its people. Canada urges Iran to heed the resolution’s
call to ensure respect for human rights.”</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">The resolution adopted by the General Assembly last night notes that Iran continues to
repress political dissent and human rights defenders; denies due process of law,
including access to fair and public hearings; uses torture and cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment. Iran also continues to issue sentences of stoning,
to use public executions in the absence of respect for internationally recognized
safeguards, and executes persons who were under 18 at the time their offense was
committed. Violence and discrimination against women and girls is pervasive, and there
are increasing discrimination and other human rights violations against persons
belonging to ethnic and religious minorities.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">- 30 -</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif">Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada<br>
613-995-1874<br>
</span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221014700/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif"><span style="color: #000000"></span></span></p>
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