Iran has slammed the decision by United Nations to appoint Asma Jahangir as special rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran and called her out as a ‘Qadiani’, a derogatory term used for members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Sect.

Pakistani Lawyer and Human Rights activist Asma Jahangir was appointed as the United Nation’s Special Rapporteur for Human Rights to Iran on Thursday, September, 1 replacing Maldivian diplomat Ahmed Shaheed.

Congratulations @Asma_Jahangir on being named as next UN Sp Rapporteur on #Iran. Look forward to handing over in Nov @KamranArif @shaheedsr — Ahmed Shaheed (@ahmedshaheed) August 31, 2016

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi said: “We have been principally opposed to the appointment of (UN) rapporteur on Iran,” He said the UN officials receive information from “inauthentic sources” that are hostile to the Islamic Republic.

He went on to say that “The historical irony is that the human rights rapporteur on Iran is appointed with the endorsement of Saudi Arabia, which is a child-murderer regime,”.

Iran’s state-owned IRIB news (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) claimed Jahangir was a ‘heretic’ and a ‘Qadiani’. The report said Jahangir was a follower of the Ahmadiyya sect which is a ” misguided cult created by the British, just like the Baha’i “

Other Iranian media outlets including Tasnim News and Atrak also published similar reports. Former Editor of Iran’s most influential newspaper the Daily Kayhan also tweeted about the issue.

The claims stem from a 2010 campaign against Jahangir by Khatme Nabuwwat Lawyers Forum of Pakistan. At the time her spokesman said Jahangir was a Muslim and her opponents were criticizing her for fighting for the rights of minorities and the destitute.

The followers of the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam are considered to be heretics by mainstream Muslims and face severe persecution in countries like Pakistan where they face state-sponsored persecution. Members of the Ahmadiyya sect(“Ahmadis”) profess to be Muslims but Pakistani law prohibits them from acting or behaving like Muslims, a crime which can get them punished under “anti-Ahmadiyya laws” of Pakistan.