In the latest report presented to the 55th session of the Human Rights Council, Javaid Rehman, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, raised serious concerns about the escalating human rights crisis in the country. The report underscores a significant surge in death sentences and executions, shedding light on the deteriorating state of fundamental rights.
Rehman’s report reveals a staggering 43% increase in executions in 2023, with at least 834 recorded cases. The UN Special Rapporteur expressed alarm over the regime’s response to protests, particularly in 2009, 2019, and 2022, emphasizing the troubling patterns of arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, torture, rushed executions, and the denial of fair trials for protesters.
One of the key points of focus is the regime’s failure to conduct impartial and transparent investigations into human rights violations, highlighting the blatant disregard for the Iranian people’s right to express opinions and assemble peacefully. The 42-page document delves into the detention of foreign citizens and Iranians with dual citizenship, acknowledging the release of eight such prisoners in 2023 while expressing ongoing apprehension about the regime’s continued practice of arresting foreign citizens and dual-national Iranians.
Rehman also voiced concern about the status of women and girls in Iran, condemning the imposition of mandatory hijab and the persistent violation of the rights of those advocating voluntary veiling. The report shed light on the discriminatory practices against religious and ethnic minorities within the regime, emphasizing the urgent need for reform in this regard.
In a rare comprehensive media interview during his six-year tenure, Rehman expressed confidence in the resilience of the Iranian people against the oppressive regime. He clarified the independent nature of his mission, highlighting the challenges in collaborating with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, which began on February 20 and will continue until April 6, serves as a platform to address the pressing issues outlined in Rehman’s report. Earlier in February, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk had also voiced concern over the substantial increase in executions in Iran, calling for an immediate moratorium on the death penalty and emphasizing the importance of due process and fair trials for all defendants.