(June 19, 2009) United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay called
on Iran on Friday to rein in Islamic militia accused of violence against protesters
and warned that the situation in the country could still deteriorate. Pillay also
voiced concern about the growing number of human rights activists and opposition members
arrested since the presidential election a week ago and urged authorities to uphold
due process of law. "It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that militia
members and regular law enforcement agencies do not resort to illegal acts of violence,"
she said in a statement. "If they are perceived to be acting outside the law, it could
provoke a serious deterioration in the security situation, which would be a great
tragedy and is in nobody's interests." Her appeal came a day after an unannounced
meeting with Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi. It also coincided with
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appealing for calm in Iran after days of street
protests against the results of the election, won by incumbent Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.