A/HRC/14/37 3. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 514. The Baha'i International Community was deeply disturbed by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s rejection of the recommendations relating to ending injustice, persecution and discrimination. It noted the rejected recommendations 15 and 39 to 41, which called on Iran to stop discrimination, incitement to hatred and acts of repression against the Baha'i community. It expressed its regret that Iran had attempted to mislead the Council about the treatment of the Baha'i community. It also expressed concerns about the fact that Iran continued to have a partial reading of the right to freedom of religion, and to refuse to commit to measures that would put a stop to discrimination and persecution. 515. Human Rights Watch was of the view that the Islamic Republic of Iran had misled the Council by stating that it was implementing recommendations to investigate the postelectoral violence of 2009. It noted that even if claims that members of the Iranian security forces were being tried in a military court for their abuses were true, the trials were being held behind closed doors. The security forces continued to arrest and convict individuals who allegedly participated in the post-election unrest, hundreds remained in prison and at least six individuals were at risk since their death sentences had been confirmed. It noted that Iran had rejected some recommendations by alleging that they were inconsistent with internationally recognized human rights, existing laws and Council resolution 5/1. Given Iran’s rejection of the visit of special procedures, it recommended that the Council remove Iran from the list of countries having issued standing invitations. 516. Amnesty International noted the Islamic Republic of Iran’s rejection of no less than seven recommendations calling for it to facilitate visits by specific special procedures. Amnesty International also noted the continued imposition of severe restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, which targeted students, journalists, political activists, trade unionists, human rights defenders and members of ethnic and religious minorities. It noted the reports of many people being subjected to long prison terms, flogging or death in grossly unfair trials, and executions carried out for politically-motivated reasons, and that these violations appeared to be committed by State officials in virtually total impunity. Amnesty International requested that, acting pursuant to paragraph 37 of Council resolution 5/1, an Iran-specific special procedure be re-established to address the compelling evidence of gross and systematic human rights violations. 517. CIVICUS – World Alliance for Citizen Participation and the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies considered the situation of human rights defenders in the Islamic Republic of Iran as one of the worst in the world. They listed five executed political prisoners and human rights defenders in jail. They noted that freedom of expression was severely limited. Since the 2009 elections, more than 170 journalists had been arrested, including two prominent female reporters. There were substantial restrictions on the freedom of association, with civil society organizations often experiencing pressure and restrictions that rendered them illegal. They called upon the Council to take decisive action. 518. Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik acknowledged that 123 recommendations had enjoyed the Islamic Republic of Iran’s support. It noted that a national plan for human rights had been promised, and should be binding. The Parliament of Iran had ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights before the Islamic Revolution, yet Iran had never implemented them. It noted Iran’s record in juvenile executions, and called on Iran to ratify the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and the Convention on the Elimination of All Discrimination against Women. It highlighted the fact that Iran had accepted to establish a national human rights institution in compliance with the Paris Principles. Noting that segregated banks and universities were announced, it qualified “separate but equal” treatment of women as “gender apartheid” even worse than the current discrimination upheld in law and practice. GE.12-17781 125