Iranian regime minister addresses UN rights body despite harsh criticism 2/28/2018 9:46:19 PM   facebook Google+ ► Print Alireza Avaei, Iran regime Minister of Justice delivers a speech at the 37th session of the Human Rights Council, GENEVA, Washington Post, Feb. 28, 2018  — Iran’s justice minister, a sanctioned human rights violator, unapologetically took the podium at the U.N.’s top human rights body Tuesday to berate U.S. and Saudi policies, defying calls for him to stay away in a visit a top U.S. diplomat said made a “mockery” of the body. Justice Minister Alireza Avaei’s visit has been criticized because he’s faced EU sanctions for six years for his role in arbitrary arrests, denying prisoners’ rights, and increasing executions in Iran. Switzerland, which hosts a key U.N. office and the council, has also handed him economic sanctions — but not banned him from visiting. U.N. Geneva spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci said Avaei did not face...