A Senior UN Official Criticizes Ongoing Violent Repression in Iran

Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, states that reports of violent repression, including the widespread detention of women and girls in Iran for not adhering to mandatory hijab laws, continue to be received. In his report to the fifty-sixth session of the Human Rights Council, he noted the Iranian government's new measures to enforce hijab laws, mentioning that the bill "Supporting Families by Promoting Culture of Chastity and Hijab" will impose more deterrent and punitive measures on women and girls. Turk emphasized that no country is immune to setbacks in women's rights and urged everyone to be vigilant against this regression and to challenge false narratives. The UN High Commissioner called for respect for the right to freedom of expression and assembly and protection for journalists, especially in light of the upcoming presidential elections in Iran. His remarks come as images of the violent arrest of two women by the morality police on Sunday, June 17, have gone viral on social media, turning the repression of women under the pretext of mandatory hijab into a trending topic among social media users, while government candidates evade responsibility for their support of the morality police and hijab enforcers. Turk also reiterated his call for an immediate halt to the death penalty, given the increase in executions by the Iranian government since the beginning of this year. In his report, Turk described the alarming state of human rights in various parts of the world, noting a 72% increase in civilian deaths in armed conflicts globally. He highlighted that the number of women killed last year doubled and the number of children tripled in a "terrifying" manner. Turk expressed concern about the rising aggressive verbal attacks, threats, retaliatory actions, and violent social media campaigns against international bodies, including the UN, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Court of Justice, and the International Criminal Court. He urged all countries to remain committed to their shared obligation to uphold human rights, as a strong and effective human rights system is vital for constructive multilateral cooperation and creating a better future for people and the planet. The High Commissioner criticized the "repression" of women in Iran and called for the release of Toumaj Salehi. Javid Rahman expressed concern about the increase in executions in Iran during a report to the UN Human Rights Council. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that he is worried about the sharp increase in executions in Iran. A joint statement from a group of countries at the UN Human Rights Council called for respect for the rights of Iranian women and girls, and the High Commissioner urged the repeal of the "repressive" and "humiliating" hijab bill in Iran.