Iran on UN women's rights c'tee

Teheran apparently wins seat by default due to lack of candidates.

united nations 298 (photo credit: AP [file])
united nations 298
(photo credit: AP [file])
Iran has won a seat on the UN Commission on the Status of Women, which works to promote gender equality, it was reported Friday.
According to Fox News, Iran obtained the four-year seat by default: Along with Thailand, it was the only nation that put forward candidates to fill two empty seats for the commission’s Asian bloc.
In Iran, women are required to be covered from head to toe in public, and may be beaten for dressing in what is considered an “immodest” manner. Earlier this month a top Iranian cleric blamed immodest women for earthquakes. Women also possess fewer rights in the areas of marriage, parenthood, inheritance and career.
Earlier this week Iran announced it was dropping its bid for membership in the UN Human Rights Council after being subjected to heavy criticism over its human rights record and facing heavy opposition from Western nations.