A fresh UN report reveals a bleak human rights situation in Iran, elaborated by Special Rapporteur Mai Sato. Documenting abuses from January to December 2024, it underlines the severe implications of these violations, particularly concerning gender.
A notable and alarming finding is the sharply rising number of executions, with 2024 marking the highest rate since 2015. More than 900 executions have been reported, placing Iran at the top of global death penalty statistics per capita. This secrecy around official execution numbers undermines the basic rights to information and truth for victims and their families.
Moreover, half of the executions were for drug-related offences, followed by cases involving homicide and broadly defined national security crimes, casting doubt on their alignment with international standards of justice, which stipulate that the death penalty should only apply to the most serious crimes.
The report indicates that ethnic minorities bear the brunt of this penalty, especially Kurdish and Balochi communities, with Balochis facing disproportionately high execution rates. Alarmingly, 80 Afghan nationals were executed in 2024, highlighting the severe discrimination in the capital punishment system.
Gender-based violence and femicide are also grave issues, as the report cites increased reports of femicide. Husbands and ex-husbands are noted as the primary culprits, with the legal system affording male offenders lenient treatment, which often perpetuates violence against women, especially in honour-related contexts.
Additionally, the report highlights onerous restrictions on freedoms of opinion and peaceful assembly. Labour organizers, activists, and journalists are incessantly targeted. The new “Law on Protecting the Family” institutes stringent dress codes and severe penalties, including extended prison terms and possible death sentences, thereby extending state control over personal lives and promoting technological surveillance.
Similarly worrying are the treatment and conditions of detainees and prisoners, which include violations of due process, instances of violence, and lack of medical care. These situations reflect a clear divergence from established human rights norms, such as the Nelson Mandela and Bangkok Rules.
The UN report by Mai Sato unveils serious human rights violations in Iran for 2024. It highlights alarming increases in executions, particularly impacting ethnic minorities, alongside rising femicide cases. Additionally, it reveals restrictive laws hindering freedom of expression and deplorable treatment of detainees, indicating widespread human rights abuses in the country.
In summary, the UN report illustrates a deteriorating human rights landscape in Iran where execution rates soar and ethnic minorities face discrimination. Gender-based violence remains rampant, and harsh restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly prevail. The treatment of detainees further exacerbates this grim reality, pointing to systemic violations of fundamental human rights principles, calling for urgent international attention and action.
Original Source: irannewsupdate.com
