Monthly Human Rights Status Report in Iran by HRANA; A 'Shocking' Image of Widespread Violations

The Human Rights Activists Organization in Iran has emphasized in its monthly report that the reports received and recorded by this organization provide a broad and shocking image of human rights violations in various aspects in Iran. According to the report published by HRANA, the implementation of death sentences, violations of individual and social freedoms, military and judicial violence, labor issues, and professional and group protests indicate serious challenges regarding the observance of human rights in Iran. The report states that during Farvardin 1403 (March-April 2024), 24 cases related to executions were recorded, including 20 executions and 15 sentences and confirmations of death sentences. In this month, HRANA recorded 94 cases of freedom of expression violations, including 49 arrests, 21 sentences of imprisonment, issuance of 1190 months of imprisonment, 144 lashes, 3 billion and 300 million rials in fines for 30 citizens, and 24 summonses to judicial authorities. Additionally, 92 cases of rights violations in the prisoners' section were recorded, including 1 detainee death, 1 prisoner suicide, 18 cases of uncertainty about the fate of detainees, 70 cases of uncertainty, 10 cases of lack of access to a lawyer, 3 hunger strikes, 41 cases of lack of medical attention, 35 cases of lack of separation of prisoners' crimes, and 13 cases of medical leave. The monthly report also mentioned 11 cases of violations in the ethnic and religious minorities section, including arrests and summonses. The report compiled by HRANA indicated that in Farvardin, 5 cases of minority rights violations occurred, which included 132 months of imprisonment, 31 billion rials in fines for 5 individuals, and 1 court summons. Furthermore, in this month, 3 cases of violation of the right to education were recorded, with 5 injuries, 1 case of student beating, and 1 case of suspension from education. The report shows that in Farvardin, 10 cases of child rights violations were recorded, including 3 arrests, 3 cases of child abuse, 1 death, and 2 cases of child labor injuries, along with 9 cases of child injuries due to negligence by officials. Additionally, in this month, 2 cases of women's murders due to domestic violence or 'honor killings', 3 cases of women's murders, and 1 case of men's murder due to domestic violence were recorded. Besides systematic violations stemming from discriminatory laws, the Human Rights Activists Organization recorded 4 violations in this section, including 4 arrests of protesting women, 2 months of suspended imprisonment for 1 individual, 1 case of suicide, and the closure of 9 businesses related to mandatory hijab. According to HRANA's report, this month included 46 reports, including 6 deaths of border couriers (Kolbers), 33 injuries of Kolbers, 7 deaths of fuel carriers, 8 injuries of fuel carriers, 20 murders of citizens, and 6 injuries of citizens due to gunfire from security forces. Additionally, 4 deaths of Kolbers and 13 injuries of Kolbers due to falls from heights and pursuits were recorded. Systematic human rights violations in Iran have always been met with reactions from international bodies, and in the latest case, on Thursday, April 16, the United Nations Human Rights Council, in its fifty-fifth session in Geneva, extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran and the UN fact-finding mission for another year due to the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Iran. An examination of the dimensions of the new report from the US State Department on human rights violations in Iran by Omid Mohammadi shows that the new US report on the human rights situation in Iran differs from previous years, according to Shiva Mahbubi. Robert Gilchrist told Voice of America: the record of the Islamic Republic has worsened. Important points from the new US State Department report on the human rights situation in Iran include Secretary Blinken stating that the Iranian government suppressed protests following Mahsa's death. A US State Department official told Voice of America that the human rights situation in Iran, especially women's rights, has worsened. The US Secretary of State emphasized the necessity of respecting human rights in all countries and rejected double standards in this regard. The US State Department report states that the human rights situation in Iran worsened in 2023.