Key facts
- Iran has publicly supported Volker Turk's bid for a second term as UN human rights chief.
- Turk has faced opposition from the US, Israel, and Russia.
- The UN General Assembly voted 144-10 to reappoint Turk for another four-year term.
- Turk has been vocal in his criticism of Israel's conduct in Gaza and Russia's actions in Ukraine.
- The US and Israel have criticized Turk's record and the process of his reappointment.
Iran has publicly backed Volker Turk for a second term as the United Nations human rights chief, despite opposition from the United States, Israel, and Russia. Turk, an Austrian lawyer, has been a vocal critic of Israel's actions in Gaza and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, drawing criticism from these nations.
The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to grant Turk another four-year term, with 144 member states in favor, 10 against, and 13 abstentions. This reappointment makes him the first UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to serve two full terms since the position was established in 1993.
US officials criticized the vote as rushed and indicative of UN incompetence, while Israel's Foreign Ministry accused Turk's office of bias and betraying neutrality. Turk expressed gratitude for his re-election, stating that human rights are the "antidote to today’s turbulence and defeatism."