Mai Sato warns of escalating violations of religious freedom in Iran: People want fundamental changes

"The Islamic Republic has ignored the people's demands for fundamental change and the right to self-determination by suppressing protesters and pressuring religious minorities," said Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on the escalating violations of religious freedom in Iran.

Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, warned in her latest report that human rights violations in Iran continue to increase and that religious minorities, including Christians, Baha'is, and other religious groups, face widespread pressure and restrictions.

He announced at the UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva on Monday, March 16, that since the beginning of his mission in August 2024, he has received numerous reports of mass arrests, repression of protesters, and increased pressure on civil and religious activists. According to him, this trend shows that the Iranian government continues to use security and judicial tools to control society and silence critical voices.

Referring to the nationwide protests in Iran, Sato said: "Tens of thousands of people were arrested during these protests; among them were doctors, nurses, lawyers and citizens who were simply calling for political and social change." He also said there were reports that some of those arrested had been forced to make confessions under pressure.

The UN Special Rapporteur also criticized the Iranian government's attempts to discredit protesters, saying that the Islamic Republic's authorities often portray protesters as "terrorists" and accuse religious minorities of "spying" for foreign countries, accusations that human rights observers say have repeatedly been used to justify the repression and detention of religious activists.

He warned that even some children have faced harsh judicial sentences in connection with the protests, and reports have been published about the issuance of death sentences to a number of them, an issue that has raised deep concern among human rights organizations.

Human rights activists say that religious minorities in Iran have faced structural discrimination for years. Christian citizens, Baha'is and other religious groups have repeatedly faced arrest, trial and social and economic restrictions. In many cases, charges such as "propaganda against the system" or "actions against national security" are used to suppress religious activities.

Critics of these policies believe that the Islamic Republic has viewed religious minorities from the beginning with a security perspective and has attempted to restrict any independent religious activity; an action that, they say, is a clear violation of freedom of religion and conscience.

In another part of his speech, Sato emphasized that the international community should not ignore the demands of the Iranian people. He said that the Iranian people want a different future and should be able to determine their own political and social destiny.

He stated: "The Iranian people want the right to self-determination, and this issue must be the main focus of any solution to the Iranian crisis."

Many observers believe that the continued political repression and religious discrimination in Iran have not only deepened the human rights crisis but also increased social discontent, a discontent that has repeatedly manifested itself in recent years in the form of popular protests and demands for freedom and justice.