Amnesty International Criticizes Continued Human Rights Violations and 'Inhuman Punishments' in Iran

In its annual report, Amnesty International harshly criticized the ongoing repression and human rights violations in Iran during 2016, highlighting the recurrence of punishments such as flogging, amputation, and other 'barbaric and inhuman' penalties. The report states that the Islamic Republic severely suppressed the rights to freedom of expression, participation, peaceful assembly, and religious freedom in the past year. Amnesty International noted that critics and opponents in Iran are sentenced to prison in 'extremely unfair trials' held by the Islamic Revolutionary Courts. The organization emphasized that 'torture remains widespread' in the Islamic Republic, and perpetrators are 'protected from punishment.' According to Amnesty International, flogging, amputation, and other 'brutal punishments' continue to be enforced in Iran. The international organization also criticized the 'harassment' and 'discrimination against religious, ethnic, and minority groups' in the Islamic Republic, stating that women and girls face 'widespread violence and discrimination.' 'Widespread and public executions' and 'executions of minors' are additional human rights criticisms highlighted by Amnesty International regarding Iran. Iranian officials have consistently rejected international criticism and the views of domestic and foreign individuals and organizations regarding the human rights situation in Iran, instead pointing to the human rights conditions in countries like the United States and EU member states. Another part of the 2016 report criticizes politicians who, according to the organization, use a 'divisive and inhumane discourse' while demonizing foreigners. Amnesty International specifically criticized Donald Trump, the President of the United States, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of Turkey, Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary, and Rodrigo Duterte, the President of the Philippines. The human rights organization urged people worldwide not to allow 'the discourse of fear, blame, and hatred to destroy the vision of a free society with equality.'