[Editor’s Note: On March 6, 2012, The United Nations Human Rights Council released the second report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The new study, which expands on the Rapporteur’s earlier October 2011 interim report, highlights deepening repression and persecution within Iran, as well as the continued, systemic abuse of human rights by the Iranian regime. The report can be read in its entirety here ; relevant excerpts are provided below.]
ON PRESS FREEDOMS
“The Islamic Republic of Iran has detained more journalists that any other country in the world, with 42 journalists currently imprisoned. According to reports received by the Special Rapporteur, at least 150 journalists have fled the country since the presidential election of 2009 owing to fear of repression and persecution. In a letter to the Special Rapporteur, Reporters without Borders stated that approximately 50 publications had been suspended since the election, and that most press trials are conducted in private, despite the fact that the Constitution stipulates that press trials must be judged by a jury. It was also reported that journalists are frequently barred from appearing at their trials and are often informed of their sentences in prison.”
ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
“The Special Rapporteur wishes to draw attention to the alarming increase in executions since 2003. In his interim report, the Special Rapporteur reported that more than 200 executions had been announced by mid-September 2011; he now regrets report that 421 executions have been officially announced, and 249 secret executions were reported to the Special Rapporteur as at December 2011.”
“According to a number of sources, 81 percent of all cases of capital punishment in 2011 were related to drug trafficking, while 4.3 percent and 4.1 percent were related to Moharebeh (enmity with God) and rape, respectively. The Special Rapporteur continues to emphasize that drug offences do not meet the “serious crime” standard set by international law, and renews his call on the Government to implement a moratorium on the death penalty, especially in drug-related cases, to seriously pursue efforts to abolish the death penalty for juveniles, and to commute all capital sentences against them.”
ON FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS
“A former Member of Parliament (wishing to remain anonymous) conveyed to the Special Rapporteur... that the scope for free and fair elections in his country is severely undermined by the Guardian Council’s ability to select candidates. He stated that this power is frequently used to prevent individuals perceived as reformist from participating in elections, and also silences representatives who fear that dissent would invalidate their candidacies.”
ON THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS
“A compilation of prisoner interviews, public statements and letters submitted to the Special Rapporteur about circumstances in nine of the country’s prisons described conditions that fall well below the minimum standards proclaimed by the United Nations, such as severe overcrowding, inadequate access to water, insufficient prisoner segregation practices, extremely poor quality and unhygienic facilities, hazardous ventilation conditions, insufficient access to medical services, paltry nutritional provisions and the perpetuation of violence and use of prisoners to facilitate punishment.”
ON THE TREATMENT OF ETHNIC AND RELIGIOUS MINORITIES
“The Special Rapporteur was also informed of the systematic killings of kulbars (back carriers) and kasebkaran (tradesmen), Kurds residing in border areas. The kulbaran, who ferry cargo across the border on their backs or smuggle commodities such as tea, tobacco and fuel to earn a living, are particularly affected.”
“Members of the Baloch, a Sunni religious community and ethnic minority, are reportedly subject to multifaceted discrimination, harassment, mistreatment, arbitrary arrest and even executions. According to reports received by the Special Rapporteur, areas with a Baloch majority are underdeveloped and frequently face the problems raised by limited access to housing, education, health care and employment.”
“The Special Rapporteur continues to be alarmed by communications that demonstrate the systemic and systematic persecution of members of unrecognized religious communities, particularly the Baha’i community, in violation of international conventions... Baha’is are subjected to severe socio-economic pressure, in violation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; in some cases, they have been deprived of property, employment and education.”