Human Rights Watch Criticizes 'Widespread' Arrests in Iran during Winter 2017

In its annual report, Human Rights Watch criticized the "widespread and collective arrests" in Iran in 2017 in response to nationwide protests and the detention of environmental activists and several "Girls of Revolution Street." Sarah Leah Whitson, director of the Middle East and North Africa division at Human Rights Watch, described Iran's "repressive and unaccountable security apparatus and judiciary" as "serious obstacles to the respect and protection of human rights." According to Ms. Whitson, Iranian leaders blame the world for their problems, "but do not look in the mirror to see how their systematic repression increases Iranians' discontent." The report noted that Iranian authorities, in response to nationwide gatherings protesting the "declining economic conditions, public perception of corruption, and lack of political and social freedoms, engaged in arbitrary mass arrests. Officials increased pressure on peaceful activities by arresting lawyers, human rights defenders, and women’s rights activists." The report states that judicial and security officials of the Islamic Republic arrested "thousands" during the 2017 protests, including "for the legitimate exercise of individual freedoms, and imposed heavy sentences on them in unfair trials that violated fair trial rights." The publication of a list of lawyers approved by the judiciary for defendants of "security crimes" and the refusal to conduct a "credible" investigation into the deaths of at least "30 people" during these protests, along with the "excessive use of force for repression," are among the other criticisms Human Rights Watch raised against the Islamic Republic. The arrest of environmental activists and the accusation of eight of them "without providing evidence" of using environmental projects as a cover for gathering classified strategic information by the IRGC's intelligence organization, as well as the refusal to conduct an "independent investigation" into the death of Kavous Seyed-Emami, a university professor and environmental activist in prison, were also criticized by the organization. Another section of the annual report states that the IRGC's intelligence organization has detained at least 14 foreign nationals and dual citizens suspected of connections with Western academic, economic, and cultural institutions since 2014, imprisoning them on vague charges such as collaborating with an enemy state. However, the report does not mention the names of these individuals. Human Rights Watch stated that these individuals "remain deprived of fair trial behind bars and are continuously targeted by pro-government media propaganda. Officials have not publicly presented any specific actions or documents related to them that would indicate the occurrence of a crime." The report also referenced the Iranian government's treatment of protesters against mandatory hijab laws, known as the "Girls of Revolution Street," noting that "Iranian courts have sentenced several of them to prison, and security forces have also suppressed peaceful protests against unjust hijab laws." The arrests of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights lawyer, her husband Reza Khandan, and Farhad Meysami, another human rights defender, were also condemned by the organization. Human Rights Watch stated: "The Iranian government discriminates against Baha'is and other religious minorities, including Sunni Muslims, and restricts political and cultural activities among ethnic minorities such as Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Arabs, and Baluchis." The report also highlighted the "discrimination" against people with disabilities in Iran, stating: "People with disabilities face stigma, discrimination, and lack of access to social services, medical care, and public transportation." The report described the halt in the execution of many drug offenders' sentences by the judiciary in Iran as a "positive development," but criticized that in 2018, "at least five individuals were executed for crimes allegedly committed during childhood." This report comes after Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, the country’s prosecutor, acknowledged that the judiciary was forced to refrain from enforcing some divine punishments, including amputating the hands of thieves, due to pressure from human rights organizations, despite claims by Iranian officials of ignoring resolutions and pressures from human rights organizations. The Islamic Republic has always labeled human rights resolutions against its actions as "political and biased" and denies human rights violations.