UNITED NATIONS E Word.Picture.8 Economic and Social Council Distr. Distr. \* MERGEFORMAT GENERAL Symbol \* MERGEFORMAT E/CN.4/2006/G/10 17 March 2006 Original: Orig. Lang. \* MERGEFORMAT ENGLISH COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS Sixty-second session Item 6 of the provisional agenda Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination Note verbale dated 10 March 2006 from the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office at Geneva addressed to the secretariat of the Commission on Human Rights The Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva presents its compliments to the secretariat of the Commission on Human Rights. With reference to the report to the sixty-second session of the Commission of the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance (E/CN.4/2006/16), the Permanent Mission has the honour to inform the secretariat that the Special Rapporteur sent a letter on 12 December 2005 in which he raised the allegations about the statement of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding Israel and the Holocaust, and he sought clarification on the issue. This mission replied to the allegation in note No. 3675 on 7 February 2006, but it has not been reflected in the above-mentioned report. Therefore, it is requested that the reply to this communication be circulated as the official document of the sixty-second session of the Commission on Human Rights. For ease of reference the reply is hereby enclosed to the present note.* * Reproduced in the annex as received in the language of submission only. GE.06-11900 - 2 - Annex Clarifications on the remarks of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran regarding Israel - The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates its commitment in cooperation with Thematic Mandates of the Commission on Human Rights and is of the view that constructive interaction with these mechanisms will contribute to the protection and promotion of Human Rights, provided that interaction is based on dialogue, impartiality, and fairness and within the legal framework defined in the UN related instruments. - In our opinion, the life of Human Beings is under divine sanctity, irrespective of race, religion or belief. No one has the right to ethnic, racial or religious cleansing and it is condemned in its entirety. - The President’s remarks came up in the form of a “research question” and deserve an academic answer, rather than creating a politically charged environment and fuss emotions which runs counter to the freedom of expression. - The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran has always unquestionably distinguished between Jewish religion and Zionism. He has constantly underlined that Jews constitute a respectable minority in the Islamic Countries including Iran and have lived in peace and security enjoying freedom of religion and participation in social and political life in their respective societies. In contrast, Zionism is an ideology based on hegemonic desires and political ambitions, articulated by colonial powers and artificially injected in the Middle East for their purposes. Systematic oppression against the Palestinian People by Israel during last half a century cannot be forgotten and is known to fair and justice-oriented peoples of the world. Various documents in the United Nations and its Human Rights Machinery, including Special Mechanisms, unambiguously attest to the atrocities perpetuated in the occupied territories by the Zionist Regime. - It has become a daily practice of American and Israeli officials to speak out for “regime change” in Iran and stigmatizing Iran as “axis of evil” and threatening Iran to a full scale raid against its infrastructure. It is a legitimate question that why these pronouncements do not motivate the Special Rapporteur’s sensitivity. Do these remarks not advocate “hostility or violence” which is prohibited under Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights? - - - - -   2