Amnesty International Report: The Situation of Freedom of Expression, Women's Repression, Torture, and Executions by the Islamic Republic Has Worsened in 2023

On Tuesday, April 23, Amnesty International released its 2023 report, stating that the Islamic Republic has further restricted freedom of expression in Iran and intensified the repression of women, torture, and executions this year. The report emphasizes that Iranian officials have severely suppressed fundamental freedoms using illegal force and unfair trials against activists, journalists, and critics in order to silence protests. According to the report, women and girls who defy mandatory hijab laws face increasing violence and discrimination, including arbitrary arrests, harassment, and even murder. The Iranian government has severely repressed and pressured political activists, human rights defenders, and minorities through widespread enforced disappearances, torture, and other inhumane and degrading treatment. Amnesty International characterized the increase in discrimination and violence against ethnic, religious, sexual minorities, and other 'marginalized groups' as systematic, adding that 'Islamic Republic officials continue to use the death penalty as a tool for political repression,' resulting in an increase in executions last year, many of which stemmed from unfair trials. The report details various instances of repression, noting government forces' attacks on weekly protests in Zahedan using 'tear gas, shotguns, and water cannons' against thousands of protesters and worshippers, including 'children,' leading to widespread arrests. The Iranian authorities have attempted to prevent the 'expansion of nationwide protests' through 'suppressing local protests' and 'destroying the homes of protesting villagers.' Additionally, officials have suppressed protests and memorial ceremonies by 'arresting the families of victims' and forcing students to sign pledges. Thousands, including children, have faced 'humiliating interrogations, arbitrary arrests, unfair judicial proceedings, and suspension or expulsion from education or employment.' Amnesty International highlighted systematic discrimination against 'ethnic minorities including Ahwazi Arabs, Azerbaijani Turks, Baluchis, Kurds, and Turkmen,' emphasizing the 'escalation of poverty and marginalization' in these regions, while also mentioning the killings of dozens of unarmed Kurdish porters and Baluchi fuel carriers as examples of 'impunity for security forces.' The report also details the human rights situation of religious minorities, including Baha'is, Christians, Gonabadi Dervishes, Jews, Sunni Muslims, and Parsis, noting that 'arbitrary arrests, unfair trials, torture, and other ill-treatment due to expressing or acting on faith' have worsened. It describes the intensification of pressures on Baha'is. The report mentions the incitement of hatred by state media and some officials against Afghan nationals and refugees, numbering over 5 million, who face widespread discrimination, including access to education, housing, employment, healthcare, banking services, and freedom of movement. Amnesty International repeatedly pointed out the 'impunity' of government officials for 'murders, torture, enforced disappearances, and other international crimes or severe human rights violations' and warned against its continuation. The report describes the agreement between Belgium and the Iranian government to exchange a Belgian citizen for an Iranian intelligence officer 'serving a 20-year sentence in Belgium for attempting to bomb an opposition gathering in France' as an example of 'impunity for international crimes.' Amnesty International also addressed various 'privacy violations' and freedom of expression issues in Iran, noting that 'Iranian officials continue to censor media, jam satellite channels, and block or filter mobile applications and social media, including Facebook, Google Play, Instagram, Signal, Telegram, WhatsApp, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube, undermining online freedoms and people's access to the global internet.' The annual report from Amnesty International was released as the U.S. State Department's deputy spokesperson on Tuesday, April 23, discussed a new U.S. report on the human rights situation, especially the threats against journalists, stating: 'The Islamic Republic remains one of the largest exporters of terrorism and has simultaneously shown itself to be a regime that disregards freedom since 1979, continuing serious repression of civil society, threatening media, and violating human rights.' Vedant Patel emphasized: 'In light of these issues, we will continue to take steps to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its citizens and their fundamental rights violations.' The U.S. State Department released its annual human rights report on various countries on Monday, April 22, emphasizing that the severe restrictions of the Islamic Republic on human rights have worsened in many areas this year. Robert Gilcrest, a senior official at the U.S. State Department's Office of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, expressed concern about the worsening human rights record of the Islamic Republic in 2023, particularly regarding women's rights in Iran. This U.S. diplomat, in response to a question from Gita Arian, a reporter for VOA Persian, regarding the existence of bills in Congress for new sanctions against senior Iranian officials due to ongoing human rights violations, stated that the U.S. State Department is committed to implementing all laws passed by Congress.