Iran Closes Human Rights Office

(Tehran, Iran) Iranian authorities have closed the offices of a human rights watchdog group led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi. Condemnation of the action has come from the U.S., the EU, human rights groups plus others.

Iranian police raided and closed the Human Rights Defenders Centre on Sunday, shortly before the group was due to hold a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which fell on Dec. 10.

"The presidency of the European Union Council condemns most firmly and vigorously the closing by Iranian police of the offices of the Human Rights Defenders Centre," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said in a statement.

"The presidency of the European Union Council calls on the Iranian authorities to honour their international commitments in terms of human rights."

White House spokesman Tony Fratto expressed concern, indicating that the administration is closely watching the situation. Meanwhile, Iran denies that it violates human rights.

As hard as I try, I can't figure out how the media are going to blame this latest Iranian move on George W. Bush and the Republicans. I'm sure it will happen but, so far, I haven't found any reasonable connection.