Ineffective Judicial System and Errant Executives

Ahmad Shahid, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, states that his latest report reflects the complex conditions in the country and that despite efforts by President Hassan Rouhani to improve human rights, the situation remains dire. Mr. Shahid emphasized the ongoing violations of human rights in various areas during a press conference held at the UN headquarters in New York, where he answered various questions. In his report, the UN Special Rapporteur described the deficiencies and flaws in Iran's judicial system as a significant factor in injustice, while also discussing the role of individuals in violating the civil and political rights of Iranians. When I asked Mr. Shahid which of these two factors he considered the main cause of the turmoil in human rights in Iran— the judicial system or individuals— he replied: "In my report, I pointed out the flaws in Iran's judicial system and explained that this systematically harms and undermines the rights of the people." He provided an example of these deficiencies in the legal and judicial system by referring to how elections are conducted in the Islamic Republic, stating that even to pass the government's filter, a person must be committed to Islam and the government. On the other hand, there are individuals who trample on people's rights in how laws are applied, yet he does not hold either responsible, stating that it is the system that limits people's rights, and with the fraud and manipulation of officials, these rights become more restricted and vulnerable. Shahid's report is not solely about human rights violations by the Iranian government; he also expressed concerns about the implications of sanctions against the Iranian government and their adverse effects on people's rights. The importance of this point becomes clear when some sanctions related to human rights violations against the Iranian government remain in place. The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, in his press conference responding to a question from Radio Farda, stated that he has always expressed serious concerns about the potential consequences of sanctions and the humanitarian aspects of various sanctions. He said: "I do not support sanctions against governments that violate human rights, but I believe that smart sanctions against individuals who trample on people's rights can be effective. Therefore, sanctions can make human rights vulnerable, but sanctions against individuals can have clear signs and a strong impact on them." American media, in reviewing Ahmad Shahid's annual report as the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, state that hardliners in the judiciary, police force, and the Revolutionary Guards view any form of friendly relations between Iran and the West as a threat to the Islamic Republic and label it a sign of moral corruption.