Iran Condemns Illegal Treatment of Nationals at U.S. Borders
TEHRAN (Dispatches) – Iran has lashed out at the U.S. for the "illegal and inhumane” treatment of Iranian nationals at its borders as a clear violation of human rights.
In a statement on Saturday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi denounced the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s recent illegal and inhumane treatment of Iranian nationals and citizens.
"Such absolutely discriminatory measures that are taken only because of the race, nationality or maybe the faith of people are totally rejected in terms of international human rights laws and principles, and would result in accountability for the U.S. government,” he added.
"Since those (Iranian) individuals have been questioned by the U.S. border guards and security forces about their political and ideological beliefs and their accounts in the virtual space have also been investigated coercively, such a measure amounts to an example of inquisition and a blatant violation of human rights,” the spokesman deplored.
Mousavi strongly condemned the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s harassment of the Iranian citizens, adding, "Such measures against Iranians are part of the U.S. regime’s hostile and vindictive policy towards Iran and its identity and existence that transpires once in the shape of the decision to ban Iranians from entering the U.S., once in the threat of attack on Iran’s cultural and civilization centers, another time in the cowardly assassination of the mythic hero of the fight against terrorism, and most recently in another form in the harassment of Iranians at the borders of the U.S.”
"Such behavior from the U.S. government could be definitely brought to and sued by the human rights tribunals,” the spokesman concluded.
The statement came after reports that the U.S. border officers working at Canadian border crossings were directed to stop travelers of Iranian descent for questioning following the assassination of top Iranian commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani.
Following the U.S. assassination of Gen. Soleimani, President Donald Trump said the U.S. had identified 52 Iranian sites, some "at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture”, and warned they would be "HIT VERY FAST AND HARD” if Tehran struck at the U.S.
Mousavi said the "cowardly assassination of the mythological hero in the fight against terrorism” was in line with the same hostility and spite which the United States bears against the Iranians.
More recently, this hostility "has appeared in the form of the harassment of Iranians at American borders”, he added.
A new poll has found nearly a third of Americans believe that U.S. President Donald Trump should face war crimes charges in the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the January 3 assassination of General Qasem Soleimani.
"Iran announced it will pursue war-crime charges against President Donald Trump at the International Criminal Court in The Hague over the assassination of Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Do you agree or disagree with such charges?” asked a recent Business Insider poll given to a total of 1,083 Americans.
According to the outlet, a total of 27.4% of those polled believed that Trump should face a war crimes tribunal in The Hague. A total of 24.8% of respondents said they "neither agree nor disagree” with the tribunal and 12.2% responded "I don’t know.”
The poll comes after Gholamhossein Esmaeili, spokesman for Iran’s judiciary, announced the government intends to "file lawsuits in the Islamic Republic, Iraq and The Hague Court against the military and government of America and against Trump,” reported the Tehran Times. "The firmest reason for accusing an individual is his confession.”
Trump’s foreign policy and overall conduct toward Iran have triggered pushback domestically from individuals such as Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
In a statement on Saturday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi denounced the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s recent illegal and inhumane treatment of Iranian nationals and citizens.
"Such absolutely discriminatory measures that are taken only because of the race, nationality or maybe the faith of people are totally rejected in terms of international human rights laws and principles, and would result in accountability for the U.S. government,” he added.
"Since those (Iranian) individuals have been questioned by the U.S. border guards and security forces about their political and ideological beliefs and their accounts in the virtual space have also been investigated coercively, such a measure amounts to an example of inquisition and a blatant violation of human rights,” the spokesman deplored.
Mousavi strongly condemned the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s harassment of the Iranian citizens, adding, "Such measures against Iranians are part of the U.S. regime’s hostile and vindictive policy towards Iran and its identity and existence that transpires once in the shape of the decision to ban Iranians from entering the U.S., once in the threat of attack on Iran’s cultural and civilization centers, another time in the cowardly assassination of the mythic hero of the fight against terrorism, and most recently in another form in the harassment of Iranians at the borders of the U.S.”
"Such behavior from the U.S. government could be definitely brought to and sued by the human rights tribunals,” the spokesman concluded.
The statement came after reports that the U.S. border officers working at Canadian border crossings were directed to stop travelers of Iranian descent for questioning following the assassination of top Iranian commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani.
Following the U.S. assassination of Gen. Soleimani, President Donald Trump said the U.S. had identified 52 Iranian sites, some "at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture”, and warned they would be "HIT VERY FAST AND HARD” if Tehran struck at the U.S.
Mousavi said the "cowardly assassination of the mythological hero in the fight against terrorism” was in line with the same hostility and spite which the United States bears against the Iranians.
More recently, this hostility "has appeared in the form of the harassment of Iranians at American borders”, he added.
A new poll has found nearly a third of Americans believe that U.S. President Donald Trump should face war crimes charges in the International Criminal Court (ICC) over the January 3 assassination of General Qasem Soleimani.
"Iran announced it will pursue war-crime charges against President Donald Trump at the International Criminal Court in The Hague over the assassination of Gen. Qasem Soleimani. Do you agree or disagree with such charges?” asked a recent Business Insider poll given to a total of 1,083 Americans.
According to the outlet, a total of 27.4% of those polled believed that Trump should face a war crimes tribunal in The Hague. A total of 24.8% of respondents said they "neither agree nor disagree” with the tribunal and 12.2% responded "I don’t know.”
The poll comes after Gholamhossein Esmaeili, spokesman for Iran’s judiciary, announced the government intends to "file lawsuits in the Islamic Republic, Iraq and The Hague Court against the military and government of America and against Trump,” reported the Tehran Times. "The firmest reason for accusing an individual is his confession.”
Trump’s foreign policy and overall conduct toward Iran have triggered pushback domestically from individuals such as Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).