Iran on Monday rejected Western accusations of human rights abuse in Islamic Republic as politically-motivated, declaring in its open democracy free speech and justice are guaranteed. "Iran is becoming one of the prominent democratic states in the region," Mohammad Javad Larijani, the secretary general of Iran's High Council for Human Rights, told the UN Human Rights Council.
Earlier, Western powers accused Tehran of having waged "bloody repression" after its June 2009 presidential election.
"The authorities are waging bloody repression against their own people, who are peacefully claiming their rights," French Ambassador Jean Baptiste Mattei told the UN council. "France recommends that Iran accept the creation of a credible and independent international inquiry mechanism to shed light on these violations."
His remarks were supported by Britain and the US, Reuters reported.
British Ambassador to the UN Peter Gooderham claimed "grave human rights violations continue to be committed" in Iran.
Larijani, however, refuted the allegations and said the country has been in full compliance with its international commitments to safeguard human rights.
He then accused the West of using the issue as a political tool to apply pressure on Iran. The official further pointed that some Western governments support anti-Iran terrorist groups.
"With the victory of the Islamic Revolution, the situation of human rights has consistently been used as a political tool to apply pressure against us and to advance certain ulterior political motives by certain Western countries," Larijani said.
Cuba, Syria and Venezuela defended Tehran's record on social and human rights development. Russia, along with a number of Non-Aligned Movement members and Islamic nations, noted progress in Iran's social and economic rights.