Criticism of Suppression and Torture of Opponents in Asma Jahangir's Latest Report on Iran

The United Nations report on human rights conditions in Iran states that despite the Islamic Republic's promises to implement reforms, it continues to violate the right to freedom of expression, detaining activists and political opponents and subjecting them to torture. This report is the last document prepared by Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, and has been reflected in Reuters about three weeks after her passing. According to diplomatic sources cited by Reuters, Ms. Jahangir had prepared the report for submission to the UN Human Rights Council despite the Islamic Republic's efforts to prevent its publication. Iran witnessed widespread protests in December of this year, during which, according to official reports, 25 people were killed. Security forces of the Islamic Republic also arrested about five thousand people, at least three of whom died in custody under suspicious circumstances. In her report, Jahangir addressed the events of December in Iran and called for independent investigations into the suppressions and the deaths of protesters in custody. She also noted that compared to last summer, when she wrote her last report on human rights in Iran, the situation has become more alarming. Jahangir's report states that the Islamic Republic has further restricted freedom of expression, assembly, and peaceful gatherings, and subjects detainees to torture and violent treatment to extract confessions. According to Jahangir, security forces continue arbitrary arrests of opponents and activists, and detainees are denied the right to a fair trial. She further accused the Islamic Republic of discrimination against women and ethnic, religious, and sexual minorities. The issuance of amputations and flogging sentences in Iran are other issues Jahangir addressed in her report, calling for their cessation. She noted that last year, over a hundred flogging sentences were issued in Iran, half of which were carried out. Additionally, 19 amputation sentences were executed. Jahangir provided examples of violations of the freedom of information in Iran, stating that the Islamic Republic has blocked about seven million internet addresses and continues to arrest internet activists. Families of BBC Persian staff in Iran have informed her that they are being harassed by the Islamic Republic. Asma Jahangir passed away on Sunday, February 11, at the age of 66 due to a heart attack. She had been serving as the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran since November 2016, following the end of Ahmad Shahid's mission.