Eleven UN Special Rapporteurs: Systematic Human Rights Violations and Persecution of Christians in Iran

A letter from UN special rapporteurs reveals human rights violations and persecution of Christians in Iran, issuing serious warnings about widespread arrests and executions.

Eleven UN special rapporteurs, including Mai Sato, the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, and Nazila Ghanea, the special rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief, expressed concern in an open letter to the Islamic Republic over widespread and systematic human rights violations. These experts called for immediate clarification and accountability from Iranian authorities.

The letter references arrests of civil activists, persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, and increasing executions. The rapporteurs warned that the wave of arrests violates Article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, a covenant that Iran has also signed. Part of this article states: “States Parties to the present Covenant undertake to respect and to ensure to all individuals within their territory and subject to their jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.”

While the UN has repeatedly warned about pressure on religious minorities in Iran, the Ministry of Intelligence of the Islamic Republic reported in a recent statement that it arrested 53 Christian citizens, accusing them of “anti-security activities.” The ministry claimed these individuals were engaged in so-called “Christian Zionist missionary” activities and had received training abroad.

Multiple reports also document the arrest of Bahá’í followers, Jews, and other minorities. Alongside these cases, Baluch people have also been targeted by a new wave of pressures.

UN rapporteurs in their letter, while noting increased persecution following the 12-day conflict, highlighted other key points as follows:

• Since June 14, 2025, at least 6 people have been executed on charges of espionage for Israel, including three Kurdish men and one Iraqi national.
• Ahmadrizeh Jalali, an Iranian-Swedish physician and researcher, faces serious imminent danger of immediate execution.
• Hossein Ronaghi, a blogger and human rights activist, has been arrested along with his brother.
• The internet has been severely restricted and the judiciary has sent text messages to citizens stating that following Israel-related pages is “criminal.”
• Hate speech discourse in state media has increased.
• A new bill in the Iranian parliament classifies any form of intelligence, media, or economic cooperation with enemy states as “corruption on earth,” prescribing death penalty for it.
• Hundreds of prisoners have been transferred from Evin to Fashafuyeh and Qarchak. Conditions described as lacking medicine, clean drinking water, and even beds.

This is not the first time UN experts have raised concerns about the situation of Christians in Iran. Previously, in another letter, warnings were issued about systematic pressure on Christian citizens. However, the Islamic Republic responded by claiming: “In Iran, there is neither inquisition, nor torture for confession, nor discrimination, nor arbitrary arrest.” It also emphasized that arrested Christians were convicted because of “connections to Christian Zionism,” a claim repeatedly made without presenting evidence or documents against these citizens.

According to UN protocols, the Iranian government has 60 days to respond to this new letter. The reality is that the Islamic Republic has primarily targeted religious minorities. Christian citizens have repeatedly been arrested on baseless charges such as “Christian Zionism” or “actions against national security,” while their personal worship and faith are not considered crimes. The Iranian government, through fabrication and file-building, creates an atmosphere of terror and intimidation.

The persecution of Christians is only part of a broader pattern that also victimizes Bahá’ís, Jews, Kurds, and Baluch. This persecution continues alongside economic crisis, extrajudicial executions, and severe restrictions on freedom of speech.

The recent letter from eleven UN rapporteurs shows that the world is not only witnessing these human rights violations but is demanding answers from the Iranian government. Yet the fundamental question remains: “How much longer must Christians and other religious minorities pay the price of their faith and identity with imprisonment, deprivation, and threats?”