UN Rapporteur warns Islamic Republic after military clash with Israel

The UN rapporteur warned the Islamic Republic not to use the situation following the military conflict with Israel for repression.

The United Nations Group of Special Rapporteurs issued a statement warning the Islamic Republic that governments should not exploit the post-military conflict situation to suppress ethnic and religious minorities and dissidents.

The statement was drafted on July 4 and reviewed and published by 17 human rights experts. The statement reads: “Even considering the impact of illegal military strikes by Israel and the United States, the experts continue to express concern about reports of executions, enforced disappearances and widespread detentions. Hundreds of activists, journalists, social media users, minorities and even foreign citizens, including Afghans, have been detained.”

The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Sai Matou, published the aforementioned statement on the social network X, part of which is about repression and executions in Iran. The statement states: “Since June 13, 2025, when the conflict began, at least six people have been executed on charges of spying for Israel, including three Kurdish men. Hundreds of people, including social media users, journalists, human rights defenders and foreign citizens, including Afghans and people belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, Baha’is, Kurds, Baluchis, Arabs, etc., have been arrested on charges of collaborating with or spying for Israel.”

Reports published on social media indicate the arrest of opponents of the regime, Christian citizens, civil activists, Jews and Baha'is after the ceasefire and the end of the military conflict between Israel and the Islamic Republic. The arrested Christian citizens are from different cities of Tehran, Rasht, Kerman, Kermanshah and Urmia, and no report of their arrest or identity has been published.

The statement issued by the UN Special Rapporteurs reminded the Islamic Republic that under international law, states are obliged to respect human rights, especially in times of war and their aftermath. The UN experts also expressed concern about the situation of detained civil society activists who are at risk of execution, including Iranian-Swedish physician Mohammad Reza Jalali.

Another part of the statement also addresses the dire situation of prisoners who have been transferred from Evin Prison to other prisons. Some prisoners have disappeared during this transfer, which raises concerns about "enforced disappearances."

The UN experts also warned against speedy trials and death sentences for espionage for Israel, and the hasty and unfair execution of sentences. “The Iranian parliament’s attempt to classify espionage charges as ‘corruption on earth’ (which can lead to the death penalty) is deeply concerning,” they said in the statement.

According to a new bill approved by the Islamic Consultative Assembly, entitled "Intensifying the Punishment of Spies and Collaborators with the Zionist Regime and Hostile Countries," which has nine clauses, any intelligence, espionage, or operational activity for Israel or other hostile states is considered "corruption on earth," which will result in the death penalty. In addition, any economic, security, financial, technological, or indirect aid that in some way strengthens or legitimizes Israel will be subject to the death penalty.

The bill also includes severe restrictions on media, cultural, and political activities. According to the bill, publishing negative news, exaggerating losses, sending videos or photos to opposition media, and activities that cause division, public fear, or harm national security are considered crimes.

The Article 18 organization also issued a statement regarding the situation of prisoners in Evin Prison, writing: "Article 18 expresses its grave concern for the safety and well-being of 11 Christian citizens imprisoned in Evin Prison for their religious beliefs and activities, and other prisoners, especially following the recent attack on this prison. We would like to remind you that prisoners, especially in times of crisis and war, are in one of the most vulnerable situations possible."

"Aida Najaflou," a Christian citizen imprisoned in Evin Prison, said in an audio file posted online: "After the Israeli attack on Evin Prison, I was transferred to Qarchak Prison in Varamin along with dozens of other female political prisoners. There is suffering in Qarchak Women's Prison, the suffering that 62 ideological and political children from my country were shamefully transferred from Evin to Qarchak in handcuffs. Worst of all, the suffering that about 1,200 female prisoners in Qarchak Prison suffer includes the lack of fresh water and a cooling and heating system, lack of proper hygiene and food."

In the aforementioned statement, UN experts and special rapporteurs called on the international community to support Iranian civil society activists, independent media, and human rights groups so that they can maintain documentation, collective memory, and coordination of their actions.

They also warned of human rights violations by the Islamic Republic, while pointing to the forced return of 256,000 Afghan citizens from Iran to Afghanistan. In addition, some Iranian civil society organizations also reacted strongly to this government action.

The experts and the UN Special Rapporteur concluded by strongly emphasizing that the Islamic Republic should not return to patterns of widespread repression following the conflicts. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, Sai Matou, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Nazila Ghane, are among the signatories of the statement.