Lamola urged to report Iran to UN over 2,000 protest deaths

The Democratic Alliance (DA) wants International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola to report Iran to the United Nations Human Rights Council over the deaths of more than 2000 people since a crackdown on anti-government protesters.

In a letter to Lamola, the DA said that Iran should be reported for flagrant human rights abuses in its attempts to suppress the current uprising.

The party is once again clashing with the African National Congress (ANC) on the government’s foreign policy after it took issue with South Africa calling for action against the United States over its recent invasion of Venezuela, but did not respond in the same way to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The presence of Iranian naval vessels off Cape Town’s coast for military exercises has again drawn international attention to South African allies, as US President Donald Trump threatens increased trade tariffs for countries that do business with Iran.

The DA said that the actions by Iran to quell demonstrations against its government should call into question South Africa’s relationship withthat country.

Iran is a recently-added member to the BRICS group of nations.

Drawing parallels between the Iranian protests and the anti-apartheid uprisings, DA MP and international relations spokesperson Ryan Smith said that the ANC is facing a moral test of whether to stand with the people of Iran or those who suppress them.

“As a member of the Government of National Unity, we will not tolerate South Africa turning a blind eye to brutal authoritarian regimes at the ANC’s behest, and we certainly will not tolerate South Africa’s silence in the wake of their violent assaults on innocent civilians."

Smith said that that given South Africa’s history, it has a duty to use its voice at all international platforms to speak out against any regime that stifles freedom at the expense of human life.