UN: Iran must conduct independent investigations into violence in November 2019

Nasrin Sotoudeh and other prisoners arbitrarily arrested and detained must be released immediately.

Javed Rahman, Senior UN Expert and Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, today, Tuesday, November 26, 2020, in The annual human rights report on Iran said: "The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran must facilitate an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the violent repression of protesting citizens in November and December 2019 and bring human rights violators to justice."

The statement, which is an annex to the annual report of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights presented to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, notes that “violence against protesters continues” and that “the Iranian government and judiciary have recently issued and executed death sentences for protesting citizens, thereby further restricting the space for peaceful dissent by citizens.”

In his annual report, Javed Rahman, warning about the state of Iranian prisons during the COVID-19 pandemic and referring to the decision of Iranian judicial authorities to release some prisoners after the outbreak intensified, said that “most human rights activists imprisoned in Iranian prisons were not included in this decision.” The report also called for the immediate release of Nasrin Sotoudeh and other prisoners arbitrarily arrested and unjustly imprisoned by judicial forces. The United Nations issued the following statement on the matter.

UN expert calls for Iran to be held accountable for violent crackdown on protesters

New York (November 26, 2020) - A United Nations expert says: "The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran must facilitate an independent, impartial, and transparent investigation into the violent repression of protesting citizens in November and January 2019 and bring human rights violators to justice."

Javed Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, stressed in his annual report, which was presented to the UN General Assembly today, that "while those responsible for the repression and use of violence against protesters must be held accountable, blatant violations of the rights of protesters continue."

The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran says, "Despite the evidence and documentation available indicating the use of violence and force by security forces in suppressing protesters, which resulted in the deaths of more than 300 people, including women and children, the Iranian authorities refuse to conduct independent investigations in accordance with international law, one year after these incidents occurred."

Evidence shows that security and judicial officials have subjected many thousands of detainees to mental and physical torture, including threats and coercion to confessions, confessions that have ultimately led to heavy prison sentences and executions.

According to Rahman Javid, "It appears that the government and judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran have resorted to implementing harsh sentences against protesters in order to limit the space for peaceful public protests. A clear example of this was the execution of Navid Afkari, one of the protesters arrested in August 2020, who was hanged."

Javed Rahman's annual report on the human rights situation in Iran also expressed concern about the treatment of prisoners' families by the authorities, including the arrest of some families of political prisoners who wanted justice for their imprisoned loved ones, as well as the pressure on some families to abandon pursuing their claims after receiving compensation.

Javed Rahman's annual report also mentions the spread of COVID-19 and its negative impact on people's economic conditions, as well as the intensification of the economic crisis due to sanctions during the pandemic. The international community is asked to do everything it can to reduce the effects of sanctions on Iran, especially since during the coronavirus outbreak, the debate is about the right to health of people.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran says, "I reiterate the call of Secretary-General Guterres and High Commissioner Bachelet that, given the negative consequences of economic sanctions on the health crisis of the people, the countries imposing sanctions on Iran should reduce the pressure of sanctions against this country. At present, the Iranian people need easy access to medical equipment, medicines and other medical products."

Referring to the Iranian authorities' promising decision to temporarily release nearly 120,000 prisoners due to the coronavirus outbreak, Javed Rahman expressed concern that justice has not been observed in the implementation of this decision, and that most human rights activists, lawyers, environmental activists, journalists, and dual-national prisoners remain imprisoned. This is despite the fact that many of these people are susceptible to COVID-19 due to their pre-existing conditions.

"I am particularly concerned about the health of human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh in prison. She and other prisoners who have been arbitrarily arrested and detained must be released immediately," says Javed Rahman.

The annual report of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran highlights the continued restriction of the space for expression of civil protest by Iranian authorities. The continued issuance and execution of death sentences for protesters, as well as widespread gender and ethnic discrimination are other issues mentioned in the report.

Source: Iran Human Rights Campaign