Criticism Increases over Iranian Justice Minister Speech to Human Rights Council Posted ,  2018-02-23 Via WN   SMS this page   Email this page There was plenty of initial outrage and protest over the invitation being extended to the Iranian Minister of Justice Ali Reza Avaei to speak in front of the United Nations Human Rights Council on February 27. That outrage has grown from members of the Iranian Resistance to others throughout Europe and other countries. Avaei was blacklisted by the  European Union in 2011  for human rights violations, arbitrary arrests, increasing executions in the country, and the abuse of prisoners’ rights. In spite of this, he is still being allowed to travel into Switzerland, which is not part of the EU. While his horrific human rights record has been used as a reason why he should not be allowed to speak, it is not uncommon for diplomats from dictatorships to address the Human Rights Council. F...