UN Special Rapporteur Concerned by Continued Human Rights Violations in Iran

In a Press Briefing Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in of Iran on Tuesday 22 October 2019, published a report that stresses concern about the continuing of executions of juveniles and other human rights violations.
(PMOI / MEK Iran) and (NCRI): The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran was re-elected again. And it calls for the regime to fully cooperate.
In a Press Briefing Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in of Iran on Tuesday 22 October 2019, published a report that stresses concern about the continuing of executions of juveniles and other human rights violations.

By Navid Felker

In a Press Briefing Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran on Tuesday 22 October 2019, published a report that stresses concern about the continuing of executions of juveniles and other human rights violations.

His report focused on civil and political rights, women’s rights, and the issue of hijab and the statistics of executions in Iran, particularly the execution of children. Rehman said that reported that two juveniles have been executed in 2019. According to Rehman’s report in 2018, 253 people have been executed and in 2019 until now, the numbers of executions are 170.

“Last year, I saw the negative impact of the continued deterioration of economic conditions on the realization of economic and social rights in Iran. On the other hand, civil and political rights are constantly curtailed,” said the Special Rapporteur.

“Those are seeking protection and respect for human rights, including human rights defenders, members of minority groups, lawyers, journalists, labor rights activists and those who protest against the forced veil, have been threatened, harassed and detained,” he added.

The situation of human rights in Iran is worsening. The previous special rapporteurs for on the situation of human rights in Iran mentioned in their report the continuing of a high number of executions during Hassan Rouhani’s tenure.

Some 3,800 persons have been executed in Iran in the past six years under Rouhani. According to international organizations, the Iranian regime holds the record of execution per capita.

Asma Jahangir, the previous Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, had referred to Iran’s 1988 massacre of political prisoners in her last report the Human Rights Council.

 

In articles 31,32 and 58 Mrs. Jahangir highlighted the mass execution of political prisoners during the summer of 1988.

In a conference held in Geneva, many experts and human rights activists and lawyers criticized the U.N. for abandoning Iran 1988 Massacre case.

“The UN lacks consistency in addressing human rights issues. In the 1988 massacre, impunity has been dropped between two special rapporteurs. This allows Iran to continue committing crimes. I call on member states to discuss the 1988 massacre with the Special Rapporteur to make sure it’s not dropped again. Failure to investigate is also a crime,” affirmed Alejo Vial Quadras, President of the international committee In Search of Justice (ISJ).

The facts & background

In the summer of 1988, the Iranian regime summarily and extra-judicially executed tens of thousands of political prisoners held in jails across Iran. The massacre was carried out on the basis of a fatwa by the regime’s then-Supreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini.

• More than 30,000 political prisoners were massacred in Iran in the summer of 1988.
• The massacre was carried out on the basis of a fatwa by Khomeini.
• The vast majority of the victims were activists of the opposition PMOI (MEK).
• A Death Committee approved all the death sentences.
• Alireza Avaei, a member of the Death Committee, is today Hassan Rouhani’s Justice Minister.
• The perpetrators of the 1988 massacre have never been brought to justice.
• On August 9, 2016, an audiotape was published for the first time of Khomeini’s former heir acknowledging that that massacre took place and had been ordered at the highest levels.