TEHRAN – Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Ali Bahraini, has delivered a sharp rebuke of the United States and European nations for their handling of protests and support for Israeli actions during the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Bahraini criticized U.S. backing of Israel, labeling it a direct violation of the Genocide Convention.

The Iranian envoy voiced particular concern about the mass arrests of over 3,000 demonstrators, including university professors, across more than 60 U.S. campuses, many of whom were protesting against Israeli policies. 

Bahraini argued that the U.S. response, which involved cracking down on these protests, constituted a grave infringement on the freedoms of speech and assembly, both of which are fundamental human rights.

Bahraini didn’t limit his criticism to the U.S., as he also took aim at European nations. He condemned the British police for violently suppressing peaceful student protests in Newcastle and Oxford, calling these actions blatant violations of human rights. 

Additionally, Bahraini pointed to similar repressive measures in Germany, where anti-Israel protests have been met with force, leading to arrests and legal actions against demonstrators. 

He condemned the expulsion of thousands from Germany, asserting that such actions breach Articles 31 and 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention. He further argued that the European Union’s new migration policies are in direct conflict with international refugee laws.

Bahraini urged the Human Rights Council and its mechanisms to take these serious violations into account and act swiftly to address the ongoing breaches of human rights in the U.S. and Europe. His speech called for greater international attention to the treatment of protesters and the complicity of Western nations in Israel’s controversial policies in the region.