UN Rapporteurs Express Concern Over the Situation of Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee

Four senior UN human rights rapporteurs have expressed concern regarding reports of beatings and inhumane treatment of Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee, imprisoned civil activists, and have warned about the situation of human rights defenders in Iran. In a statement issued on March 18, UN experts stated that Ms. Daemi and Ms. Iraee were transferred from Evin Prison to the city of Rey following reports of inhumane treatment. UN observers say these two civil activists were subjected to beatings by guards and then sent to a general ward. The four rapporteurs mentioned that they have attempted to engage with Iranian authorities on this matter, but these efforts have yielded no results. They emphasized that the cases of these two human rights activists exemplify the ongoing pattern of harassment, intimidation, and imprisonment of those who defend human rights and support political prisoners in Iran. This statement was issued by Michel Forst, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, Dubravka Šimonović, the Rapporteur on Violence Against Women, David Kaye, the Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Thought, and Nils Melzer, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and Inhumane Treatment. Iranian officials have yet to respond to this statement. Two weeks ago, Amnesty International also criticized the conditions of Atena Daemi and Golrokh Iraee's detention, calling for their immediate and unconditional release. Amnesty International stated that Ms. Daemi and Ms. Iraee are being held in unsuitable and unhygienic conditions, with limited access to the outside world. It has been reported that Ms. Iraee was on a hunger strike for over a month, but prison authorities connected her to a food IV without her consent. Ms. Iraee has been accused of insulting sacred beliefs for writing an unpublished story about stoning. She is also facing charges of propaganda against the regime and has been sentenced to a total of six years in prison. Atena Daemi has been sentenced to 14 years in prison on charges of 'propaganda against the regime, conspiracy and collusion against national security, insulting the leadership, insulting the founder of the Islamic Republic, and concealing evidence of a crime,' which was reduced to half in an appeals court. These charges are reportedly related to Ms. Daemi's peaceful human rights activities, including distributing pamphlets opposing executions and her Facebook and Twitter posts criticizing the situation of executions in Iran.