Mr. Speaker, last week I welcomed Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Horrific human rights abuses are ongoing in Iran, and the situation continues to worsen. Dr. Shaheed's research reveals that the number of persons executed in Iran has risen since 2004. A recent case that has shocked and saddened the international community was the execution of 26-year-old Reyhaneh Jabbari, who was hung without due process or a fair trial for killing a man attempting to sexually assault her.
Unfortunately, it is not surprising that basic rights, including freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and access to a fair trial continue to be ignored by the Iranian government.
Later this month Canada will co-sponsor the UN resolution on Iran. This resolution is significant to the promotion of human rights.