UN General Assembly Condemns Widespread Human Rights Violations by the Islamic Republic

On Tuesday evening, December 19, 2023, Eastern US time (midnight December 20, 2023, Iran time), the UN General Assembly approved a resolution proposed by Canada condemning widespread human rights violations by the Islamic Republic, which had previously been approved in the Third Committee. This human rights resolution was passed with 78 votes in favor, 30 against, and 68 abstentions. The resolution had earlier been approved in the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly with 80 votes in favor, 29 against, and 65 abstentions. The resolution was voted on in the General Assembly after reviewing the 'Agenda on Human Rights Situations and Reports of Special Rapporteurs,' which was held a month ago. Suspected deaths of prisoners in the Islamic Republic's prisons, increased pressure on Iranian women under the pretext of hijab, arbitrary and unjustified arrests of dual nationals and citizens of other countries, as well as the poor conditions of Afghan migrants in Iran, were among the issues that UN member states expressed concerns about regarding widespread violations in Iran under the Islamic Republic. The representative of the Islamic Republic condemned the approval of the Canadian resolution and called for the removal of the special rapporteur's mandate and the fact-finding committee. Previously, on October 24, 2023, Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, presented a report to the General Assembly and the Third Committee, stating that the report depicts the 'bitter reality' of human rights in Iran. He stated in the Third Committee session that 'thirteen months have passed since the killing of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police, and the Iranian government has failed to conduct transparent, impartial, and independent investigations in this regard and has continuously denied any wrongdoing on its part.' Rehman noted that significant shortcomings in the legal and political framework of the Islamic Republic of Iran have considerably limited the ability of Iranian citizens to exercise their democratic participation rights in the political and public sphere. The UN Special Rapporteur indicated that the current situation in Iran has led to widespread public distrust and protests, which were violently suppressed, with demonstrators facing harassment, injury, death, or arbitrary arrests, torture, and sentencing. Javaid Rehman also expressed concern over 'broader human rights issues in Iran and the significant deterioration of the situation for those exercising their civil participation rights.' He described the increase in executions as 'alarming,' stating, 'In 2022, at least 582 people were executed, with over 256 cases related to drug offenses, which is significantly higher compared to 2021.'