Jahangir: Improving Human Rights in Iran is Impossible Without Judicial Reform

Asma Jahangir, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, has released her new report on the human rights situation in Iran, highlighting both positive and negative aspects. Nonetheless, she emphasized that serious human rights challenges in Iran persist. She particularly stressed that 'the lack of an independent judiciary, especially revolutionary courts, has created a dire situation in Iran.' The UN Special Rapporteur states in her new report that 'improving the human rights situation in Iran is impossible without judicial reform' and 'to improve the human rights record of the Islamic Republic, the government has no choice but to reform the judiciary, ensuring its independence.' She adds that 'appropriate training for members of the judiciary is needed to ensure fair trials and proper judicial processes.' However, the UN Special Rapporteur notes that she has observed some recent developments in Iran that may lead to positive changes in the human rights situation. Asma Jahangir cites the approval of the Citizens' Rights Charter under President Rouhani's government and new steps by the parliament to reform drug trafficking laws as examples. In another section of the report, it states that 'the Special Rapporteur welcomes the high voter turnout in the presidential elections [in Iran]; a high rate that indicates the Iranian people's interest in democratic values and human rights.' This section continues that 'also, Hassan Rouhani's position during his election campaign in support of press freedom and the need to empower women is encouraging.' Previously, Reporters Without Borders has repeatedly called for Hassan Rouhani to fulfill his promises in these areas. At the same time, human rights organizations and trade unions worldwide have criticized the government's performance regarding political, social, and trade freedoms. Jahangir's report also indicates that information received from various sources shows that serious human rights challenges in Iran continue. Among these challenges mentioned in the report are: 'arbitrary detention and prosecution of individuals for their lawful exercise of their legitimate freedoms; harassment and persecution of human rights defenders, journalists, students, labor union leaders, and artists; a high number of executions including the execution of children; the use of torture and ill-treatment; widespread violations of the right to a fair trial and necessary judicial processes, especially before revolutionary courts; and a high level of discrimination against women, religious and ethnic minorities.' The report also refers to the 'widespread impunity' of officials who have been responsible for violating citizens' human rights in the past and present. Jahangir reminds that since she started her work, 'a large number of Iranians inside and outside Iran have contacted her, and she has been deeply affected by the level of fear these individuals feel because of these contacts.' According to her, callers residing abroad are always faced with the fear that the Islamic Republic may punish their families in Iran. In another part of her report, Jahangir refers to the executions of 1988, stating that the families of those executed have the right to know what happened that year. She also urged the Iranian government to ensure the formation of an independent committee to investigate these executions. The UN Special Rapporteur once again called for the abolition of all death sentences issued for children in Iran and urged the Islamic Republic to cease the torture of individuals. Previously, Bahram Qasemi, the spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, described Jahangir's new report as 'a collection of false information and incorrect prejudgments' and stated that Tehran does not recognize this report and Jahangir's mission. Iranian officials have always denied the reports published by UN Special Rapporteurs, accusing them of 'bias' and 'prejudice.' They have also defended their human rights performance against international criticism. Meanwhile, the human rights record of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been criticized multiple times by the UN Human Rights Council. The defense of the Islamic Republic's human rights record comes at a time when, according to Reporters Without Borders, Iran ranks among the top five jailers of journalists in the world, and the judicial security measures against political and civil activists in Iran face widespread criticism both in Iran and globally. Iran and China top the list of countries in the world in terms of the number of executions, and human rights organizations, the UN Human Rights Commission, and supranational organizations have repeatedly warned and criticized the high number of executions in Iran. Asma Jahangir, who succeeded Ahmad Shaheed last year, stated in her first report that no significant improvement has been made in Iran's human rights record, and restrictions on freedom of expression and discrimination against women and religious minorities continue. Although this report was met with denial and severe reactions from Iranian officials at the time, Jahangir stated in an interview with Radio Farda that Tehran has not been able to provide any substantiated objections to her report. The UN Human Rights Council appointed Ahmad Shaheed as the Special Rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in Iran seven years ago following the crackdown on protesters after the 2009 presidential election. However, the Islamic Republic has not allowed either Shaheed or Jahangir to travel to Iran and has declared that it does not recognize them.