UN Human Rights Council Appoints Experts from Iran and China, Sparking Criticism

The United Nations Human Rights Council made headlines on Wednesday by appointing two experts from Iran and China to its advisory board, provoking significant backlash.

Hillel Neuer, the executive director of UN Watch, expressed his dismay, stating, “The United Nations has chosen loyal representatives of the Chinese and Iranian governments as ‘human rights experts’—and they did so without a vote or any sense of accountability. These regimes are known for their persecution of minorities, silencing of free speech, and governance through fear and censorship.” He cautioned that the body that once worked on the UN Convention against Racial Discrimination is now under the influence of those who embody racism and oppression, calling it a devastating setback for human rights and a blemish on the UN itself.

Neuer emphasized that reform is essential, suggesting that President Trump should make U.S. funding to the UN contingent on concrete changes, as advised by former diplomats.

Responses from the UN Secretary-General’s office and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights were not immediately available. Notably, the Trump administration had withdrawn from the board earlier this year, with the former president commenting that the UN would eventually lose credibility and become irrelevant.

Orde Kitry, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, remarked, “The selection of China’s Ren Yisheng and Iran’s Afsaneh Nadipour illustrates a troubling trend within the UNHRC—it now serves as a distraction from the world’s most egregious human rights offenders, rather than promoting global human rights.”

Ren Yisheng, a seasoned Chinese diplomat, has been accused of advocating for China’s severe human rights violations, particularly against the Uyghurs in Xinjiang and the Tibetan people. According to Freedom House, China ranks near the bottom in political rights and civil liberties globally. Kitley remarked, “Entrusting human rights advisory positions to officials from nations with such records feels like letting the wolf guard the henhouse.”

Moreover, Rhodan Bazargan, a noted Iranian-American human rights activist who suffered imprisonment in Tehran, criticized Nadipour. He noted her long-standing association with the Islamic Republic, arguing she is not a true advocate for rights. In a recent uprising, she dismissed global support for oppressed Iranian women as politically motivated and backed the regime’s oppressive measures.

Bazargan further highlighted Nadipour’s past actions as Iran’s ambassador to Denmark, noting pressures exerted on Iranian women regarding divorce and threats of child custody loss. Such actions reflect a regime notorious for enforcing draconian laws like compulsory hijab and child marriage.

The U.S. has long recognized Iran as a major state sponsor of terrorism and has issued numerous reports detailing extensive human rights abuses in the country.

Attempts were made to reach out to both Iran’s UN mission and the Chinese embassy in Washington for their perspectives.