( CNN ) -- Iranian citizens who support peaceful change that will allow them to enjoy their human rights expect the international community , and in particular the United Nations , to hold the Islamic Republic to account . The new session of the U.N. Human Rights Council began on March 1 . A failure of the world 's most influential human rights body to deal with the abuse of human rights in Iran will be interpreted by Tehran as a green light for the government 's brutal policies that could result in more executions of political prisoners . Scores of peaceful demonstrators have been killed on the streets or in prison since the disputed June 2009 presidential elections . Four political prisoners have been executed and others , including 20-year-old Mohammad Amin Valian , who has been convicted of `` enmity against God '' for throwing rocks at a demonstration , face death penalties . More than 1,000 Iranians are behind bars for expressing their political views . Leading politicians and clerics are calling for the harshest sentences for more of these prisoners . In February , Iran 's human rights record was examined under the Universal Periodic Review procedure . A number of U.N. members expressed deep concern about post-election abuses and chronic problems such as torture , the execution of juvenile offenders and discrimination against women . Other countries praised Iran 's progress in improving social welfare . At the end of the exercise , Iran rejected outright recommendations to end juvenile executions , end torture , release illegally detained persons , and prosecute officials guilty of rape , torture and murder in prisons . They rejected recommendations to end legal discrimination against women . They rejected the idea of inviting U.N. special rapporteurs -- none of whom as has been allowed to visit Iran since 2005 -- to examine the allegations . While atrocities since June have horrified people around the world , leading to demonstrations by more than 50,000 people in 110 cities last summer , Iran seems , astonishingly , to be strengthening its standing in the Human Rights Council . The 47 member states have shown no willingness to hold a special session , as many international human rights experts have recommended , nor have they supported the idea of a special U.N. envoy to look into the situation , and to press Iran to abide by its commitments . One reason seems to be that the international community is preoccupied with persuading Iran to keep its nuclear development program from creating an atomic weapon . Even without a bomb , Iran already seems to have achieved a form of nuclear deterrence : The nuclear issue creates conflict that justifies police state methods to keep the population under control , while reducing international pressure to end such abuses , which other states fear will spoil delicate negotiations . The strategy is working for the Iranian government . Now they have their sights set on gaining a place on the Human Rights Council itself in elections by the U.N. General Assembly that will take place in May . The failure of the Human Rights Council to take serious action to condemn Iran 's human rights abuses , and the election of Iran to the Human Rights Council itself , will be deeply disillusioning for the reform and human rights movement in Iran . It could destroy their faith in the international human rights system , for which many have sacrificed their freedom and security , and for which many have died . It will give legitimacy to hanging political prisoners , and more will be hanged . But this issue is not just about Iran . It is about the capacity of the U.N. system to protect human rights . If Iran 's grave abuses are ignored and if Iran assumes a place on the council , the council will be further weakened . Other dictatorial regimes will be emboldened to repress their citizens . That is why it is crucial that members of the U.N. Human Rights Council make it clear to Iran , in a resolution that can not be brushed off , that torturing and executing political prisoners is not acceptable . And that is why the U.N. General Assembly must reject Iran 's candidacy . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Hadi Ghaemi and Aaron Rhodes .
Co-authors say U.N. Human Rights Council has yet to take serious action against abuses in Iran . They say many protesters against conduct of election have been killed or jailed . Iran is seeking to gain a seat on the Human Rights Council . Co-authors says seating Iran would be a betrayal of that nation 's civil rights movement .