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The Iranian Resistance
has called on Italy's prime minister to cancel a visit to Iran next week amid
fears it will be used by Tehran to legitimize human rights violations in the
country, Scotland's The National reported on Friday.
"Iran
has an economy worth $400 billion (£283.8bn) and European countries are keen to
re-establish trade ties," the paper wrote.
"However,
the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) said more than 2,300 people
had been executed there during [Hassan] Rouhani’s regime – according to a UN
special rapporteur, the highest figure over the past 25 years."
"The
NCRI said the Tehran regime 'manipulates such visits against the highest
interests of the people of Iran and against peace and tranquillity in the
region'."
Shahin Gobadi of the
NCRI told The National: “The Iranian regime is very egregious and only feeds
Tehran’s propaganda. It has no interest in improving Iran’s conduct at home or
abroad."
“Actions talk louder
than words and under Rouhani the human rights situation is becoming much worse.
Just yesterday a report by Amnesty International put Iran far ahead of any
other country in terms of executions in 2015.”
“Look
at Iran’s conduct regarding missile tests, or for sending weapons abroad. In
recent weeks three ships containing Iranian weapons destined for Yemen’s Houthis
were intercepted by the French, Australian and American naval forces in
international waters.”
Mr. Gobadi said it was
unlikely that Italy would condemn human rights issues in a meeting with
Rouhani, in which case the premier’s visit should be called off, the report
said. If it went ahead as planned, it would send a message to Iranians that
such behaviour was acceptable.
