Eleven Human Rights Recommendations by Guterres to Iran in New UN Report

The UN Secretary-General's report on the human rights situation in Iran was presented to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, September 17. This report is set to be reviewed at the seventy-third session of the Assembly. The new report addresses the suppression of protests in December, the crackdown on protests in the Tehran market, the treatment of dual nationals, executions, torture and mistreatment, the situation of Gonabadi dervishes, laws against women and girls, the status of minorities, and other issues. The early sections of the report explain that the information contained in it is based on data from media and official sources of the Islamic Republic of Iran and non-governmental organizations. The seventy-third UN General Assembly began its work on the last Tuesday of September, September 17, and during it, the file of one year of UN diplomatic activity is to be reviewed and closed. At the beginning of the new report on the human rights situation in Iran, the report's authors remind that since the publication of the previous report by the Secretary-General, the Iranian government has implemented an amendment related to drug trafficking laws that prevents executions related to this crime in some cases. This refers to the new drug law that removes the death penalty for certain convicted drug-related crimes and replaces it with imprisonment and fines, which could reduce the number of executions in the country. The UN had also welcomed the change in the heavy punishment law for drug offenders in its previous report, stating that this law changes the fate of 5,300 offenders facing the death penalty. However, the new report adds that despite this positive step, following the increase in widespread protests, the human rights situation in Iran has been accompanied by a severe crackdown on protesters, journalists, and social media users. The report particularly emphasizes that the use of the death penalty, including for juvenile offenders, has continued at an accelerated pace. The new UN report states that many reports of torture, arbitrary detention, and trial processes inconsistent with international standards have been received. Continued discrimination against women and girls as well as members of minority groups are other reported issues mentioned in this text. In a section of the text, it is noted that according to information published by the Iranian Ministry of Interior, approximately 43,000 protests have taken place across Iran since 2013. The report then refers to the December protests that began in the cities of Mashhad and Nishapur and spread to about one hundred cities in Iran. The UN report reminds that Abdolreza Rahmani, the Minister of Interior, stated that 42 of the protests in these one hundred cities faced violence and between 40,000 to 45,000 people were involved in the protests. At the end of this new report, Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary-General, listed eleven human rights recommendations to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Preventing the execution of offenders under the legal age, abolishing laws that allow torture and mistreatment of detainees, addressing the health status of detainees, and allowing international organizations to monitor the conditions of prisoners, and adhering to due process standards are among the first few items on this list. Abolishing laws restricting freedom of expression on the internet, abolishing anti-women and anti-girls laws, and eliminating discrimination against religious minorities are other recommendations from Mr. Guterres to the Iranian authorities. The text further states that the Secretary-General calls on the Iranian government to ensure that human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and environmental activists in Iran can perform their roles freely and safely, without fear of harassment, arrest, detention, and legal prosecution. Allowing independent investigations into arbitrary detentions and holding those responsible accountable, abolishing the death penalty, and continuing cooperation to comply with international human rights covenants are other items on this list. In the last recommendation, it is stated: 'The Secretary-General encourages the Iranian government to continue constructive engagement with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to facilitate addressing all issues raised in this report and previous reports.' Bahram Qasemi, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, deemed the previous year's report by the UN Secretary-General on the human rights situation in Iran as 'lacking credibility and value.' In this context, UN reporters have called for the halt of the death penalty for three Kurdish prisoners in Iran.