Human Rights Watch: The Suppression of Women, Opponents, and Minorities in Iran Continues

Human Rights Watch warns of the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran in its annual report. This human rights organization cites evidence and reports of intensified repression of women and girls, an increase in executions, lack of fair trial processes, harassment of activists, students, journalists, families of victims, and discrimination against sexual and gender minorities by the Islamic Republic in 2024. The alarming increase in executions is highlighted, noting that Iran was one of the five countries with the highest number of executions in 2023, raising concerns about high statistics for 2024 as well. The report mentions that the Islamic Republic applies the death penalty for crimes committed in childhood, vague national security charges, and non-violent crimes. Citing UN data, the report states that over 400 executions were carried out in the first half of 2024 in Iran. At that time, several UN experts expressed concern over long-term prison sentences and executions against women from minority groups due to national security-related charges. The report also references the arrest of dozens of lawyers, activists, and students, and harassment of families of those killed or executed related to the "Women, Life, Freedom" protests. It discusses widespread repression of students and the expulsion of professors, emphasizing that it has documented cases of at least 30 students who faced disciplinary actions for "peaceful expressions" last year. The actual figures are likely higher. The systematic repression of ethnic and religious minorities is noted, with the report stating that the harassment of Baha'is by the Islamic Republic has reached the level of "crimes against humanity," with two-thirds of imprisoned Baha'is being women in 2024. Human Rights Watch also documented rape, torture, and sexual assault of dozens of detained individuals from Kurdish, Baluch, and Azerbaijani minorities during nationwide protests from September to November 2022. The report mentions the excessive and deadly use of force by Islamic Republic agents against porters, who are mostly Kurdish. It discusses the intensification of mandatory hijab laws, the passage of a bill known as "Hijab and Chastity," and discrimination against women regarding marriage, divorce, inheritance laws, and decisions related to children. Last November, UN Special Rapporteur May Sato emphasized that the human rights situation of women and girls in Iran has worsened. The report addresses the increase in "femicide" cases in Iran, citing data from the "Stop Femicide in Iran" group, which reported 93 cases of attempted femicide in the first half of 2024, a 60% increase compared to 55 cases in the same period in 2023. The annual report warns of severe sentences issued against human rights defenders, many of whom are women, to suppress dissent and silence opposing voices. It mentions the sentencing of 11 women's rights activists and political activists arrested in August 2023 in Gilan, who received a total of over 60 years in prison. The report also references the six-year prison sentence for Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, two journalists arrested for reporting on the death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody. Human Rights Watch warns of the lack of fair trial processes in courts, especially revolutionary courts, noting that confessions obtained under torture are often used as evidence. The annual report refers to torture and mistreatment of detainees as a manifestation of "systematic government repression against anti-government protests." It adds that judges in revolutionary courts consistently refuse to examine claims of torture and mistreatment. The report highlights increased discrimination and pressure against Afghan citizens who have fled to Iran, emphasizing that many lack legal residency and are subject to discrimination, abuse, and deportation. The organization warns of a plan that would lead to a 10% annual reduction in the foreign population in the country and impose fines for hiring undocumented foreign workers. According to a report from AFP last October, Abdul Ghani Qazizadeh, the head of the registration of deportees from Iran in Islam Qala, reported that about 3,000 Afghans, some of whom were born in Iran, are forcibly returned to Afghanistan daily. The annual report also addresses discriminatory laws against sexual and gender minorities, including flogging and execution for homosexuality. The European Parliament representative called for action against human rights violations in Iran, and the UN Special Rapporteur expressed concern over the confirmation of the death sentence for Pakhshan Aziz. The Baha'i community called for an investigation into the violations of Baha'i rights in Iran at the UN. Amnesty International demanded the immediate cancellation of the death sentences for Behrouz Ehsani and Mahdi Hasani. The United States urged the Islamic Republic to revoke the death sentence for Pakhshan Aziz. Activists urged global institutions to prevent the imposition of mandatory hijab on female athletes.