Shirin Ebadi's Request to Nada Al-Nashif: The Islamic Republic is Exploiting You, Cancel Your Trip to Iran

Shirin Ebadi, head of the Human Rights Defenders Center, wrote a letter to Nada Al-Nashif, the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations, urging her to cancel her upcoming trip to Iran next month due to the increasing executions by the Islamic Republic. In her letter, Ebadi stated: "Your visit at such a time will be exploited for propaganda by the Islamic Republic. Therefore, as a long-time human rights advocate, I recommend that you also refrain from traveling to Iran in protest against the unlawful and escalating executions." Ebadi, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003, further emphasized: "You are planning to visit Iran at a time when at least four prisoners, two of whom were protesters and civil activists, were executed this week in an unjust process and even against the laws established by the Islamic Republic. If for any reason you cannot forgo such a trip, firstly, in respect for the victims of the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' movement, the recent movement in Iran, travel to Iran without a headscarf and hijab, and secondly, meet and converse with some ordinary people in addition to government officials." She also recommended that the Deputy High Commissioner visit Evin Prison during her potential trip to Iran and meet with Narges Mohammadi, the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner, and visit the family of Mahsa Amini and several prisoners who are on death row, including Mojahid Korkor, to gain a fuller understanding of the dire human rights conditions in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Nada Al-Nashif is scheduled to visit Iran on February 3rd to address two human rights issues regarding "executions" and "women's rights." The UN Secretary-General reported in November that the Islamic Republic is executing prisoners "at an alarming rate," with a 30% increase in executions in the first seven months of this year compared to the same period last year. At that time, the Secretary-General urged the Iranian authorities to immediately halt all executions, abolish the death penalty, and release all individuals who have been arbitrarily detained. In defiance of domestic and international requests, the Iranian leaders have increasingly executed opponents and dissenters following the Secretary-General's remarks, with the latest executions of Mohammad Qabadi and Farhad Salimi occurring simultaneously in the early hours of February 3rd. The United States stated: "The Islamic Republic of Iran is neither democratic nor transparent; it suppresses to remain in power." The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern over the significant increase in executions in Iran. Amnesty International reacted to the two executions in Iran, stating that the Islamic Republic is entering new realms of oppression. UN experts reacted to the execution of Mohammad Qabadi, calling for the Islamic Republic to stop the "terrifying wave" of executions. Special reporters from the UN expressed serious concern over the "intimidation and harassment" of lawyers in Iran.