Human Rights Watch: Judiciary and Security Forces are the Main Obstacles to Justice in Iran

The 2016 report by Human Rights Watch was published on Thursday, stating that in 2016, the suppression of fundamental human rights, especially the right to freedom of expression, continued in Iran. According to the Human Rights Watch website, Sarah Leah Whitson, the organization's Middle East director, stated regarding the 2016 report on Iran: 'The security forces and the judiciary have become the main obstacles to achieving justice in Iran.' This is while their declared main objectives are to achieve justice. Sarah Leah Whitson added that the weakening of citizens' fundamental freedoms and the disregard for their rights (as stated in Iranian laws) reflects their lack of confidence that they cannot govern legitimately. The 27th Human Rights Watch report, which is 687 pages long, addresses the human rights situation in 90 countries. In a section of the report about Iran, it states: 'Although three years have passed since Hassan Rouhani's presidency, he has not yet fulfilled his promise to strive for greater respect for civil and political rights of the people.' The report further adds: 'In this year, the high number of executions, especially regarding drug offenses, continued. While Rouhani is facing the second presidential election in May 2017, the hardline factions that dominate the country's security and judicial apparatus have continued to suppress citizens who sought to enjoy their legitimate rights, with blatant disrespect for national and international legal standards. Those Iranian citizens with dual nationality and citizens returning from abroad were particularly at risk of arrest by Iranian authorities, who labeled them as 'Western agents.' Human Rights Watch states, 'Despite an initial decrease in executions in the early months of 2016, Iranian officials executed at least 203 individuals by October 25. However, human rights groups report that the number of executed individuals may reach 437.' The report emphasizes: 'Iranian courts, especially revolutionary courts, have repeatedly failed to conduct fair trials, and it is reported that these courts rely on confessions obtained under torture. Iranian law restricts the accused's right to access a lawyer, especially during the interrogation stage.' Human Rights Watch states, 'Freedom of expression and dissenting opinions remained severely restricted, and officials continued to arrest and charge journalists, bloggers, and internet media activists who sought to exercise their right to freedom of expression.' The organization also referred to the situation of Baha'is in Iran, stating that the Iranian government 'denies Baha'is the freedom of religion and discriminates against them. Since October 2016, at least 85 Baha'is have been imprisoned in Iran.' Human Rights Watch added: 'Security forces continued to target individuals who converted from Islam to Christianity and members of the 'house church' movement who gather in private homes for worship.' The report emphasized: 'In August, several Sunni figures in Kurdish areas were summoned and interrogated after criticizing the execution of at least 20 individuals on August 2.' This report refers to the executions on July 14 of this year. Iranian judicial officials accused the executed individuals of being members of the 'Tawhid and Jihad' group. In this context, FIFA's efforts to 'prevent the execution of convicts in Iranian stadiums,' the serious concern of 85 UN members regarding severe human rights violations in Iran, the US House of Representatives condemning the persecution of Baha'is in Iran, and Amnesty International's protest against the Iranian government's 'misleading' propaganda regarding the execution of '25 Sunni men' are noted.