UN Reporter: I am Concerned About the Increase in Executions and Civil Restrictions in Iran

Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, highlighted two major issues that have heightened her concerns: the intensification of civil rights restrictions and the increase in executions. In an interview with the UN's video section, released on Thursday, November 8, she emphasized that several areas genuinely worry her, including restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, as well as the rising number of executions. She stated that reports received from civil society in Iran indicate a contraction of civil rights, citing instances such as 'imposing restrictions on human rights defenders, intimidating and targeting journalists, detaining some of them on vague charges like acting against national security, and depriving some of them of medical services after imprisonment.' Mai Sato, a Japanese lawyer, was appointed as the UN Special Rapporteur on Iran's human rights by the UN Human Rights Council in July this year. In her first report to the UN General Assembly, she warned that the situation for women and girls in Iran has worsened. Previously, other human rights figures and organizations had also warned about the intensification of government pressure and repression against human rights defenders, civil activists, opponents of compulsory hijab, and religious and ethnic minorities in Iran. In her recent interview, Mai Sato also pointed to the increase in the number of executions in Iran as another cause for concern, emphasizing that the number of executions in Iran 'has certainly increased in recent months.' In addition to the rise in executions of prisoners on drug-related charges, the issuance of death sentences for political prisoners has also increased in recent months. Mai Sato reminded that governments like the Islamic Republic of Iran cite 'Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights' to justify executions. She noted that although this article limits the death penalty to the vague term 'most serious crimes,' according to the interpretive ruling of the UN Human Rights Committee, this article refers only to 'intentional murder.' According to human rights sources, at least 811 people were executed in Iran over the past year (from October 10, 2023, to October 8, 2024), including four child offenders.