Iran Condemns Illegal Treatment of Nationals at US Borders
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Abbas Mousavi lashed out at the US Customs and Border Protection for the “illegal and inhumane” treatment of Iranian nationals which is a clear violation of human rights.
In a statement on Saturday, Mousavi denounced the US Customs and Border Protection’s recent illegal and inhumane treatment of Iranian nationals and citizens.
“Such absolutely discriminatory measures that are taken only because of the race, nationality or maybe the faith of people are totally rejected in terms of international human rights laws and principles, and would result in accountability for the US government,” he added.
“Since those (Iranian) individuals have been questioned by the US border guards and security forces about their political and ideological beliefs and their accounts in the virtual space have also been investigated coercively, such a measure amounts to an example of inquisition and a blatant violation of human rights,” the spokesman deplored.
Mousavi strongly condemned the US Customs and Border Protection’s harassment of the Iranian citizens, adding, “Such measures against Iranians are part of the US regime’s hostile and vindictive policy towards Iran and its identity and existence that transpires once in the shape of the decision to ban Iranians from entering the US, once in the threat of attack on Iran’s cultural and civilizational centers, another time in the cowardly assassination of the mythic hero of the fight against terrorism, and most recently in another form in the harassment of Iranians at the borders of the US.”
“Such behavior from the US government could be definitely brought to and sued by the human rights tribunals,” the spokesman concluded.
The statement came after reports that the US border officers working at Canadian border crossings were directed to stop travelers of Iranian descent for questioning following the assassination of top Iranian commander Lt. General Qassem Soleimani.
According to CNN, dozens of American citizens of Iranian descent were stopped at a port of entry in Blaine, Washington, in the days following the January 3 assassination of General Soleimani. Some were detained for hours and reported they were asked detailed questions about their country of birth.
