Final Report by Javid Rahman to the UN Human Rights Council; Alarming Human Rights Situation and 43% Increase in Executions in Iran

The UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, Javid Rahman, reported on Monday, March 18, in his final report to the UN Human Rights Council, an alarming 43% increase in executions in 2023 and the ongoing concerning human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Rahman expressed regret that despite continuous requests during his mission, he was never granted permission by the Islamic Republic to travel to Iran, describing the human rights situation in the country as extremely worrying. He stated at the beginning of his report: "The ongoing executions and the increase in death sentences during my reporting period are extremely concerning. At least 834 people were executed in 2023, which is a 43% increase compared to 2022. Of the reported executions in 2023, 471 executions—approximately 56.5%—were for drug-related charges. As of December 31, 2023, since the onset of nationwide protests in September 2022, unfortunately, Iranian authorities have executed 9 individuals for participating in the protests." The UN Special Rapporteur added: "Despite serious concerns expressed by me and the international community, the execution of children in Iran continues, with at least one execution reported in 2023. One of the highest rates of executions of women in this country has been recorded, with at least 22 women executed in 2023." Rahman further criticized the illegal processes and unfair trials in Iran, stating: "The number of death sentences without legal process and the right to a fair trial is extremely concerning. There are also claims of torture and mistreatment of 'detainees' in custody, and they have frequently been denied access to lawyers, with lawyers not allowed to defend their clients." In another section of his report, he addressed the situation of ethnic and religious minorities in Iran, stating: "The situation of ethnic and religious minorities remains very concerning, with the number of executions of individuals from ethnic and religious minorities, particularly for drug-related or security offenses, disproportionately high." According to Javid Rahman, "Baluch and Kurdish minorities, especially porters and fuel carriers, have been subjected to arbitrary deprivation of the right to life by government officials through executions and extrajudicial killings." The UN Special Rapporteur added: "The continued harassment, arbitrary detentions, and persecution of members of the Baha'i community, as well as targeting and harassment of religious minorities, especially newly converted Christians and Sufis, particularly from the Gonabadi order, is extremely concerning." He further noted the detention and harassment of civil rights activists and human rights defenders, stating: "Harassment, threats, targeting, detention, and imprisonment of human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, and labor union activists are extremely concerning. Narges Mohammadi, a prominent imprisoned human rights defender, suffers from severe health issues, including serious heart and lung conditions, and labor rights activists and journalists reporting on labor conditions have been imprisoned for exercising their rights to free speech and peaceful assembly." Javid Rahman added: "In 2023, at least 1,266 labor union protests occurred, four instances of protest suppression, and 32 labor strikes took place." The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran also addressed the suppression of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement by the Islamic Republic, stating: "It is very distressing and heartbreaking that government officials, with complete impunity, have illegally killed at least 48 women and 68 children, and a large number of women and girls have been injured, assaulted, and subjected to brutal treatment during the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, with very concerning reports of rape, torture, and other forms of sexual violence to punish these protesters." He referred to the "gender apartheid in Iran" under the shadow of the Islamic Republic, stating: "Last week we celebrated International Women's Day; however, women and girls in Iran face ongoing repression, discrimination, and increasingly oppressive and violent policing methods against girls and women who violate mandatory hijab laws. Iranian authorities maintain a system of gender apartheid and insist on strict laws, administrative policies, and practices that increasingly violate the human rights and dignity of Iranian girls and women." According to Javid Rahman, over one million text messages were sent to women stating that if they traveled without hijab, their vehicles would be confiscated, and these threats have been acted upon thousands of times. This senior UN human rights official also referred to the closure of businesses in Iran due to the enforcement of "mandatory hijab laws," resulting in many women being deprived of access to education, public transportation, and banking services, adding: "The moral security police have been re-established, and a bill, named the Family Protection Bill promoting the culture of chastity and hijab, has been submitted by the parliament to the Guardian Council. This bill intensifies gender segregation and imposes strict measures for 'inappropriate dress,' including restricting economic-social rights and using flogging as a form of punishment." In this section of his report, Rahman again called on the Islamic Republic to abolish the mandatory hijab law and eliminate all forms of harassment, discrimination, and violence against women and girls in law and practice, take all necessary measures to promote their equal participation in public life, and ensure that women's rights, including those of human rights defenders, are protected. He also called for the Islamic Republic to ratify and fully implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. The UN Special Rapporteur concluded his report by stating: "This report examines the overall human rights situation in Iran over the past six years and the extent of Iranian authorities' attention to the recommendations provided. Positive actions taken, such as the amendment of the drug trafficking law in 2017, which led to a reduction in drug-related executions until 2020, have been noted. In the area of women's and girls' rights, advancements such as equal access to education and increased literacy among women, as well as the amendment of nationality law in 2019, which grants Iranian women married to non-Iranian men the right to apply for Iranian citizenship for their children under 18, have been recognized." He added: "However, my report accurately shows how these initiatives and achievements have been nullified, rendered ineffective, or led to negative consequences due to the ongoing and systematic violation of human rights. Unfortunately, none of the key recommendations have been implemented by the authorities. Serious and ongoing concerns such as widespread and arbitrary deprivation of the right to life through ongoing executions, use of force against protesters, violations of the right to a fair trial, systemic and systematic discrimination, and attacks on minorities, women, and girls persist." According to Javid Rahman, "Impunity and lack of accountability for serious human rights violations is a fundamental problem in the legal system, constitution, and political atmosphere of Iran." The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran continued: "In addition to the need for accountability for perpetrators of crimes in the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, the international community has been called upon to establish mechanisms for accountability regarding past events, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial and arbitrary executions in the years 1981 and 1988, and the protests of November 2019." Javid Rahman concluded by stating that his report serves as a platform to highlight and report serious human rights violations and abuses by the government officials of the Islamic Republic, expressing hope that the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on human rights regarding the situation in Iran continues to serve as the voice of millions of Iranians who have been targeted, victimized, and abused, with their fundamental rights continuously and impunely violated. He also thanked the people of Iran for their courage, determination, resilience, and positive support and engagement with this mission at the end of his six-year mandate. Javid Rahman's mandate as the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran began on July 6, 2018. His mandate was extended in 2021 and 2022. Throughout his six-year mandate, he has submitted six reports to the Human Rights Council, consistently condemning human rights violations in Iran. Javid Rahman has repeatedly urged the Iranian authorities to fulfill their human rights commitments and has called on the international community to take action to improve the human rights situation in Iran.