UN rights chief urges Iran to rein in militia

(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.