Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Sunday evening after a meeting with Vito Rosario Petrocelli, the president of the Italian Senate's Foreign Affairs Committee, Larijani slammed some Western countries for “unprofessional stances”; adding that French government has “a dark background in crimes against humanity.”
“The main topic discussed with the Italian delegation was bilateral judicial relations as well as cooperation in the field of human rights.”
Referring to the Italian delegation’s interests to become familiar with Iran’s judicial system and comparing it with their own, Larijani said that so far four rounds of talks have been held; where the two sides expressed their views regarding human rights.
“One problem is their stances, which we consider to be unprofessional. They speak in a selfish and discriminatory manner. Recently, the French president- just like his American counterpart – expressed support for those who have been convicted by our judicial system”, the secretary of HCHR added.
“The French president and his foreign minister are not in the position to judge the performance of the Iranian judicial system; if they are really interested in human rights they should rather clarify why a terrorist group like the MKO is totally supported by France.”
Mojahedin-e Khalq (MKO) is a terrorist organization in exile that has carried out lots of attacks against civilians in Iran. This terrorist organization operates freely in France and holds regular conferences in Paris every year in order to recruit more terrorists.
Larijani noted that Iranian judicial system is autonomous based on the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran which are taken mostly from Islam.
He further added that those who advocate human rights should not support individuals who are in contact with the MKO group and with those convicted by our laws. “We can support those who seek justice and are killed and injured on the streets of Paris and even invite their leaders to Iran; but, we respect the sovereignty of other countries and still listen to the voices of those who have been oppressed.”
“The French judicial system backs the violence which is taking place in Paris and other cities of France and the HCHR follows these events closely and considers them as shameful conduct of the French government.”
Human rights groups and entities have long warned of increasing levels of violence against French protesters. In December, Amnesty International called for the French police to “end the use of excessive force against protesters and high school children” after several cases of police injuring not only yellow vests, but also journalists.
“We recommend Mr. Macron to take a closer look at the situation of his own country and stop interfering in the affairs of other countries; it’s good to know that the western selfishness era has already been finished,” Larijani said.
Larijani added: “The experience of the Islamic Republic of Iran in founding a democrat system based on Islamic thoughts is an important achievement for the human kind and we are proud of it and believe that the world should follow this experience.”