27 people were executed yesterday and today according to official Iranian media. So far in June at least 206 people have executed in Iran.

27 Executions in Iran- One Execution Every Two Hours So Far in June   In the absence of international reactions the Iranian authorities have executed one person every two hours in June 2015. Iran Human Rights (IHR) calls for immediate international reactions to stop the mass-executions ongoing in Iran. Iran Human Rights, June 17, 2015: Official Iranian media has reported about the execution of 27 people yesterdayand today. According to the website of the Iranian State Broadcasting, Jam News, 25 prisoners were hanged in the Rajaishahr prison of Karaj (west of Tehran) Tuesday morning June 16. “Most of the prisoners were convicted of drug related charges” said the report which called the prisoners “criminals and drug traffickers”. None of the prisoners were identified by name. Two other prisoners were hanged in two different Iranian cities early this morning. According to Tabnak news website, one of the prisoners was charged with Moharebeh (waging war against God) for kidnapping, carrying arms and distribution of alcoholic beverages. The prisoner who was not identified by name was 33 year old and was hanged early Wednesday morning in the prison of Mashhad (Northeastern Iran) said the report. The other prisoner who was hanged on Wednesday morning was 43 years old and identified as “M. Z.”. He was charged with murder and hanged in the prison of Sari (Northern Iran). According to reports collected by IHR so far in June at least 206 people have been executed in different Iranian cities. 60 of the executions have been announced by the official sources while IHR has managed to confirm 146 other executions which have not been announced by the authorities. IHR condemns the arbitrary executions in Iran and calls for international reactions. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR said: “The number of executions in Iran is unprecedented in the last 20 years. So far in June the Iranian authorities have executed 12 people each day, while the international community continues its meaningful silence”.

IRAN: 25 Prisoners Transferred for Execution- International Community Maintains its Silence

Another group of 25 prisoners have been transferred for execution in the coming days in Ghezelhesar prison. The total number of the executions since May 6. in  Ghezelhesar prison will reach to 80, if the prisoners transferred today are executed. Meanwhile the international community maintains its silence towards the arbitrary mass-executions by the Iranian authorities. Once again Iran Human Rights calls for the international reactions.

Iran Human Rights, June 6, 2015: According to reports by reliable sources in Iran, 25 prisoners have been transferred to solitary confinement in the Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj (west of Tehran). These prisoners are scheduled to be executed in the coming two days. All the prisoners are charged with drug-related offences. Previous reports from IHR shows that many of the prisoners charged with drug offences are subjected to torture, forced confessions and unfair trials.

According to reports by IHR, 56 prisoners have been executed in the Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj since May 6. 44 of these executions have taken place following a peaceful gathering of the prisoners in the prison yard where they were carrying handwritten banners asking the Iranian Supreme leader Ali Khamenei for reduction in their sentences. If the 25 prisoners transferred today are executed the number of executions for drug offences in the Ghezelhesar prison will pass 80.  There are more than 2000 prisoners who are on the death row for drug offences in this prison.

IHR strongly condemns the unprecedented number of executions in one prison, and calls for the international community to stop its silence and show immediate reaction.

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR said: “Hundreds of prisoners are in serious danger of execution. The United Nations, European Union and all countries with diplomatic ties with Iran must stop their silence and react immediately in order to stop a humanitarian disaster in the Iranian prisons.

24 of the prisoners who were transferred today were from different rooms in the Unit 2 of Ghezelhesar prison, while one prisoner identified as “H. N.” was transferred from the new “Cenra prison of the greater Tehran”. According to IHR’s sources “H. N.” stubbed and murdered an Afghan prisoner while being transferred and his execution is most probably postponed due to the new  “murder” charges.  Seven of the prisoners from the Unit 2 (room no. 1) of Ghezelhesar are identified as: “Reza Mansouri, Reza Karegari, Jasem Veisi, Salar mahmoudzadeh, Ali Taghipour, Behrouz Sahraei and Mostafa Kouhi”.

Read more:

22 prisoners were executed in Ghezelhesar prison

Mass-Executions Continue: 11 Executed in Ghezelhesar Prison

More than 30 other prisoners might be executed in the coming days. They are being held in the quarantine of the Ghezelhesar prison now.

Iran Human Rights, June 8, 2015: According to reports by reliable sources, 11 prisoners were hanged in the Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj (west of Tehran) early Monday morning.

On Saturday IHR reported about the transfer of 25 prisoners to the quarantine of the Ghezelhesar prison for execution. The number increased to 47 as IHR  received reports about the transfer of additional 22 prisoners from Rajai Shahr and Greater Tehran Central prison to Gehzelhesar for execution. 

The remaining prisoners are being held in the quarantine of the prison and their executions can be implemented in the coming hours or days.

All of these prisoners are convicted of drug offences. One of the prisoners who was hanged today is identified as “Mahmood Samimi” (picture).

Since May 6, at least 67 prisoners convicted of drug offences have been executed in the Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj (west of Tehran). The executions dramatically increased after a group of Ghezelhesar death row prisoners gathered in the prison yard calling on the Iranian Supreme leader Ali Khamenei to reduce their sentences. This happened on May 21. Since then prisoners have been executed every week in groups of 11 up to 22 executions at a time.

The international community has not reacted to these executions yet.

13 Prisoners Hanged to Death in Iran- One Hanged in Public

Iran Human Rights, June 12 2015: According to official reports from Iran, 13 prisoners were hanged to death between Wednesday and Thursday.

A state-run newspaper in Iran reported on the execution of 11 prisoners in Karaj’s Rajai Shahr Prison on Wednesday. The newspaper listed their charges as murder and gang-related, but did not provide any details except for their ages ranging from 25 to 57.

The website of the Attorney General of the province of Ardebil reported on the execution of one prisoner on Thursday for possessing 163 grams of heroine. The charge was reportedly issued in branch 1 of the Revolutionary Court in Orumiyeh where the prisoner was sentenced to death by hanging.

The Attorney General’s office of the province of Fars reported on the public execution of “Mohammad Javad V.”, a prisoner charged with rape. The prisoner was publicly hanged to death amid onlookers in the county of Fasa.

Two Prisoners Hanged to Death in Rasht on Saturday

Two Prisoners with drug related charges were hanged to death in Rasht on Saturday 

Iran Human Rights, June 15, 2015: According to official reports from the Department of Justice in Gilan, two prisoners with drug related charges were hanged to death in Lakan Prison (I.e. Rasht Central Prison) on Saturday morning. The report identifies the prisoners as E.M., 54 years old and Q.P., 44 years old.

The report claims that E.M. was charged with possession of 994 Kilograms of heroin and Q.P. was charged with selling, buying, and possessing 24 Kilograms of opium.

Iran executed four people a day last month

By Felicity Capon 6/2/15 (Newsweek): The figures, released by Iran Human Rights (IHR), a not-for-profit, human rights organisation based in Oslo, has been confirmed by several independent sources within Iran, according to the group. IHR now fears that several hundred prisoners are due to be put to death as part of a mass execution at Ghezelhesar prison where more than 2,000 death row prisoners are held, mostly for drugs charges.

Since the beginning of May, 56 prisoners from Ghezelhesar prison have been executed, and 34 of the executions took place after the prisoners gathered peacefully in the prison yard carrying handwritten banners asking the Iranian Supreme leader for forgiveness.

The incredible rate of public hangings shows no sign of slowing down, with the group also reporting that at least 17 people were put to death across the country on Monday alone. 12 of these executions took place at Ghezelhesar prison, with all the prisoners charged with drug offences.

“Hundreds of prisoners might be executed in Ghezelhesar prison if the international community continues its silence,” warns Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the founder of IHR, who explains that in the past there have been several rounds of group executions within a week, most notably at Vakilabad prison in 2011.

According to reports collected by IHR, at least 450 people have been executed in the first five months of 2015 in Iran. Amiry-Moghaddam says this year the average is higher than what it was last year, when an average of two per day were executed. Despite Iranians celebrating Iranian New Year in March, when there is usually a lull in executions, an average of three per day have been executed so far this year.

“It is very high. We haven’t seen any improvement,” says Amiry Moghaddam. “The situation inside the prisons is very desperate.” Moghaddam says the group’s research indicates that many of those executed could have been innocent, and that use of torture is systematic, detailing how prisoners are beaten with cables and subjected to electric shocks, and in one case, an innocent man was reportedly forced to sign a confession while blindfolded.

The IHR is also reporting the public execution of a man in the city of Jiroft, in southeastern Iran on Monday. The unidentified man was charged with kidnapping and raping a 10-year-old girl. Pictures published by the state media show a crowd of several children watching the public execution.

Six Executions in Iran- One Public Executions in Front of Children

Iran Human Rights, June 1, 2015: Iranian state media reported about the public execution of a man in the city of Jiroft (southeastern Iran) on Monday June 1. The man who was not identified by name was charged with kidnapping and sexual intercourse with a 10 year old girl.  The pictures published by the state media show a crowd including several children watching the public execution.

The Iranian daily newspaper Khorasan reported about the execution of one prisoner in the Vakilabad prison of Mashhad (Northeastern Iran). The man who was not identified by name was charged with murder. The execution was carried out on Wednesday May 27, said the report.

The Human Rights News Agency (HRANA) reported about execution of four prisoners in the prison of Urmia (Northwestern Iran) early Monday morning June 1. The prisoners who were all convicted of drug-related charges were identified as “Ardalan Rahdar”, “Mohammad Rashid Rahdar”, “Habib Rahdar” and “Shirzad Rashidi”. Three of the men were cousins. The four executions of Urmia have not been announced by the official Iranian sources yet.

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4. Three Men Executed in Front of Children – Four Executed in Prison in Iran

Ghezelhesar Prison: 12 Prisoners Executed- 56 Executions in Less Than One Month

Iran Human Rights, June 1, 2015: Twelve of the prisoners who were transferred from Unit 2 of the Ghezelhesar prison (Karaj, west of Tehran) were executed Monday morning, reported Iran Human Rights (IHR) sources from Iran. The report has been confirmed by several independent sources.  All the prisoners were charged with drug offences. Identities of the prisoners will be published later. 

On saturday IHR reported about the transfer of 13 death row prisoners to the quarantine of Ghezelhesar prison. Later reports show that the actual number of the prisoners who were transferred was 14. Two of the prisoners were for reasons IHR will publish later, not executed .

In less than one month 56 prisoners from Unit 2 of Ghezelhesar prison have been executed. 34 of the executions has taken place after the prisoners gathered peacefully in the prison yard carrying handwritten banners asking the Iranian Supreme leader for forgiveness.

More than 2000 death row prisoners are held in Unit 2 of Ghezelhesar prison. All the prisoners are sentenced to death for drug-related charges. IHR has received several testimonies on unfair trials, torture and forced confessions.

According to reports collected by IHR at least 450 people have been executed in the first five months of 2015 in Iran.

IHR strongly condemns the arbitrary mass-executions of Ghezelhesar prison and calls for the international community to react. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said: ” Hundreds of prisoners might be executed in Ghezelhesar prison if the international community continues its silence. Iranian authorities’ use of the death penalty can only be compared to the ISIS. Unfortunately the arbitrary executions don’t seem to have any consequences for the Iranian authorities”.

Three Executions in Iran Today- One Hanged in Public

Iran Human Rights, May 31, 2015: Three prisoners were hanged in two different Iranian cities today, reported the Iranian state media.

Two prisoners charged with drug offences were hanged in the prison of Sari, reported the official website of theJudiciary in Mazandaran province (Northern Iran). The prisoners who were identified as “A. Gh.” charged with trafficking of 1400 grams of heroin, and “N. R.” for possession of 29 kilograms and 320 grams of opium, said the report.

The state run Mehr news agency reported about public execution of a prisoner in Shiraz. The prisoner who was not identified by name was charged with eight cases of rape, said the report. He was hanged in the “Ghahramanan” square of Shiraz.

The above mentioned charges have not been confirmed by independent sources.

Mass-Executions of Ghezelhesar Prison Continue: 13 Prisoners Transferred For Execution

Less than a week after execution of 22 prisoners in Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj, 13 other death row prisoners have been transferred to the prison’s quarantine for execution. 

Iran Human Rights, May 30, 2015: 13 prisoners are scheduled to be executed in the Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj, the coming two days according to Iran Human Rights’ sources today. All the prisoners are from Unit 2 of the prison and sentenced to death for drug-related charges.

The reports say that the prison authorities had to use the prison’s spacial guard to transfer the prisoners due to their resistance. Several prisoners were injured by the guards.

One prisoner stubbed another prisoner to death in order to postpone the execution. It is well known that when a prisoner who is sentenced to death for drug charges is commits a murder his death sentence for drug charges is postponed since “qisas” (retribution in kind) is given higher priority.

Iran Human Rights (IHR) once again calls for the international community’s reaction to the mass-executions of the Ghezelhesar prison. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR said: “The situation among the death row prisoners of Ghezelhesar prison is desperate and needs the urgent reaction of the world community”- “It is a shame that the international community is watching these mass executions without showing any reaction.”

In addition to the prisoners who were transferred for execution today, 44 other prisoners have been executed in the same prison in less than one month.

Three Men Executed in Front of Children – Four Executed in Prison in Iran

Three prisoners were hanged publicly in Mashhad with a crowd including children were watching. Last month the Iranian authorities in response to the UN Special Rapporteur’s condemnation of the executions in Iran stated that “people are seldom hanged in the public and when that happens we take measures so that children don’t see the execution scene”.

Iran Human Rights, May 28, 2015: Three men were hanged in public in Mashhad (northeastern Iran) Wednesday May 27, reported the Iranian state media. According to the Iranian state broadcasting, the men were charged with armed robbery, kidnapping, keeping arms. Two of the men were 27 year and the third was 38 years old. None of them were identified by name. Pictures published in the Iranian media show several minors and children watching the executions.

The official Iranian news agency IRNA reported about the execution of one man charged with murder. The execution took place on Thursday May 28 in the prison of Gachsaran (Western Iran).

Two men were hanged in the prison of Kerman (Southeastern Iran), according to unofficial reports. The men who have not been identified by name were charged with murder.

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4. Today: 11 Prisoners Executed in Iran

22 Prisoners Executed in Ghezelhesar Prison

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In the last three weeks 44 prisoners convicted of drug charges have been executed in the Gehzelhesar prison of Karaj. Iran Human Rights (IHR) warns against mass executions of the Gehzelhesar prisoners and calls for immediate action by the international community.

Iran Human Rights, May 26, 2015: Reports by several independent sources indicate that all of the 22 prisoners in Ghezelhesar prison who were transferred to solitary confinement on Saturday and Sunday, have been hanged. The executions reportedly took place on Monday morning May 25. IHR cannot rule out that some of the prisoners might have been executed the day before, on Sunday May 24.

Death row prisoners praying- Iran Human Rights

Death row prisoners holding a handwritten banner asking the Judiciary and the Iranian Supreme leader for forgiveness from the death sentence

These 22 prisoners were transferred to the prison’s quarantine following a gathering of the death row prisoners of Unit 2 of Ghezelhesar prison on Friday May 22. The prisoners, who carried the Muslim holy book and handwritten placards, called for the Iranian Supreme leader Ali Khamenei to reduce their death sentences to life in prison (See picture). The gathering was reportedly peaceful. Nevertheless, after the gathering, some of the prisoners were threatened by the prison officials that they would all be executed. Some of them were executed yesterday.

Two other group executions took place in the same prison earlier in May. These executions were carried out on May 6 and May 21; each time 11 prisoners were hanged. Some of the prisoners who were executed then had taken part in a prison riot last year.

Unit 2 of Ghezelhesar prison is where more than 2000 death row prisoners are being held. Most of these prisoners are sentenced to death for drug-related charges.

None of the Ghezelhesar executions have been announced by the official Iranian sources, but IHR has published names and photos of some of them.

IHR strongly condemns the mass executions at Ghezelhesar prison. Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, the spokesperson of IHR, said, “Most of these prisoners are subjected to unfair trials and their death sentences have been issued based on forced confessions made under torture  We call on the United Nations and the international community to take urgent actions to stop these mass executions”. Amiry-Moghaddam added, “United Nations’ Office for Drug and Crimes (UNODC), which cooperates with the Iranian authorities in the fight against drugs, and countries funding this fight against drugs must take their share of responsibility for these unlawful and arbitrary executions. The international community, and in particular UNODC and its funding countries, must intervene  before it is too late”.

Some of the 22 prisoners executed are identified as:  Abbas Heydari, Abbas Ameri, karimbakhsh Bameri, Haj Ahmad Ebrahimi, Asghar Kooshki, Ahmad Rabiei, Ahmad Rabdoost and Seyed Mohamad Mirhosseini. IHR is investigating identities of the remaining prisoners.

In addition, the following names were published by the “Human Rights Activists News Agency” (HRANA): Nader Hajizadeh, Jahangir Shahozahi, Mehran Baluchzahi, Mehrshad Soleimani, Reza Daeizadeh and Ehsan Saghafi.

Since the beginning of 2015, at least 400 prisoners have been executed in Iran

17 years old girl burned her self in Shiraz (Iran) because of her private film was on media // video

there is two video came out in You tube Iranian people heating, kicking a young boy in-front of his mother ans sister inside their house.
this guy released his private intercourse record on public media and threaten the ex-girl friend
as soon as the young girl found out in university, she went to next door car park and burn her self by petrol
she died before some one could help her, then people found out why this girl suicide by burning her self, crowd got angry and went to boy houses, they took him out and bit him badly in-front of police

first thing; if the girl was alive, for whale of her life would be called beach and even her family was in danger of bullies by other people in area, she couldn't get married, she must go to prison even may the court issued capital punishment, in Iranian society she save her self and her family proud, now no one blame the father or mother

second thing; if she was alive, her father and all member of family life were to be miserable by hearing some thing from local people.
I do not know what to say, except the religion and the culture and the way of their life in Iran made a young person life ended by suicide, if they were in west none of them could happen

  

Two Young Men Hanged Publicly in South-Eastern Iran

Iran Human Rights, Match 20, 2015: Two young men were hanged publicly in Jiroft (southeastern Iran), reported the Iranian state media.

One of the prisoners was identified as Asghar, convicted of murdering two sisters, and the other prisoner not identified by name, was convicted of murdering a girl.

The executions were carried out on March 27, said the report.

One Prisoner Hanged Publicly in Central Iran

16 prisoners scheduled to be executed in the coming days.

Iran Human Rights, April 12, 2014: One prisoner was hanged in the city of Mehriz (Yazd Province, Central Iran) early Sunday morning April 12, reported the Iranian state media. The prisoner who was not identified by name was convicted of murdering a 9 year old child, said the report.

According to unofficial reports two prisoners were hanged in the prison of Zahedan (Baluchistan Province, Southeastern Iran) Saturday morning, April 11. Several unofficial sources have also reported about transfer of 16 prisoners for execution in Karaj (west of Tehran). These prisoners are scheduled to be executed in the coming days.

Six Prisoners Hanged in Iran

In addition 16 other prisoners were hanged in the Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj, according to unconfirmed reports.

Iran Human Rights, April 13: Six prisoners have been hanged in two different prisons according to the official Iranian sources.

Official website of the Iranian Judiciary in Hormozgan province (southern Iran) reported that two prisoners identified as “M. Gh.” and “A. A.” were hanged in the prison of Bandar Abbas on Thursday April 9. The prisoners were charged with murder in two separate cases said the report.

The judiciary in Markazi province (central Iran) reported about the execution of four prisoners convicted of drug-related charges on April 12. These prisoners were identified as “Nematollah N.” charged with possession and trafficking of 6950 grams of heroin, “Mohammad L.” for possession of 667 grams of heroin, “Mahmood S.” for trafficking of 20 grams and possession of 880 grams of heroin and “Hamed N.” for possession of 536 grams of the narcotic substance crystal, said the report.

According to unofficial reports 16 prisoners were hanged in the Ghezelhesar prison of Karaj (west of Tehran) early Monday morning April 13. All these prisoners were convicted of drug-related charges. There are no more details available at this moment. 

36 HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS URGE MEMBER STATES TO VOTE YES TO DEFEND HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN

– MARCH 12, 2015POSTED IN: FEATURE, STATEMENTS

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Iran Human Rights, March 12, 2015: With the 28th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on its way, 36 NGOs are urging the UNHRC Member States to support the resolution to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. In a joint letter, representatives of human rights organizations such as Amnesty International, Iran Human Rights, and Human Rights Watch, as well as Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi call attention to ongoing concerns regarding Iran’s human rights record and outline how the Special Rapporteur’s active engagement has provided crucial support for the work, safety and, in many cases, release of human rights defenders, lawyers and prisoners of conscience in Iran. Importantly, the Special Rapporteur for human rights in Iran has issued credible, thoroughly researched and well-sourced reports, although the Iranian government continues to deny him access to Iran. Renewal of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate will ensure that human rights in Iran remains a priority globally and for the Council.

The letter is below:

March 12, 2015

To: Member States of the UN Human Rights Council

Your Excellency,

We, the undersigned human rights and civil society groups, write to you to urge your government to support the resolution to renew the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran at the 28th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (“the Council”).

The situation in Iran remains one of systemic human rights violations that are deeply rooted in laws, policies, and practices that require the sustained attention of the Council. Renewal of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate will ensure that human rights in Iran remain a priority globally and for the Council. As a member of the Council, your government is entrusted with the responsibility to promote and protect human rights. This responsibility includes pressing the Iranian authorities to ensure that the people of Iran enjoy the human rights enshrined in the human rights treaties to which the country is party and to which they are entitled. The mandate of the Special Rapporteur provides an effective and constructive means for the Council to promote and protect these rights.

As your government is aware, the Special Rapporteur for human rights in Iran has issued credible, thoroughly researched and well-sourced reports, although the Iranian government continues to deny him access to Iran. The reports include testimonies and other first-hand information gathered from sources inside Iran using modern technologies and information gathered from credible non-governmental organizations located outside the country. The Special Rapporteur has produced concrete recommendations for action by the Iranian government to meet its legal obligations and respect Iran’s international human rights commitments. On the international stage, these reports focus attention on a range of ongoing human rights challenges in Iran, including some of those enumerated in the enclosed Facts and Figures sheet.

The Special Rapporteur’s active engagement has encouraged and helped galvanize Iranian civil society inside and outside the country. His actions in pursuance of his mandate have contributed to the domestic debate on human rights in Iran. Most importantly, the Special Rapporteur has also provided crucial support for the work, safety and, in many cases, release of human rights defenders, lawyers and prisoners of conscience. In his reports and joint press statements with other Special Procedures, the Special Rapporteur has raised concerns over many individual cases, some of which have thereafter seen tangible improvements in state behavior. Renewing the Special Rapporteur’s mandate would send a strong message to people inside Iran that the international community continues to have concern for their rights.

Iran’s most recent Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which took place on 31 October 2014 and saw the international community largely reiterate recommendations that it had made to the Iranian government during the previous UPR in 2010, also underscored the value of the Special Rapporteur’s work and the importance of renewing his mandate.

We urge your government to actively participate in the upcoming interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, to encourage the Iranian authorities to cooperate with the Special Rapporteur, and to strongly support the renewal of his mandate as a means to contribute concretely to the promotion and the protection of human rights in Iran.

Sincerely,

Roya Boroumand, Executive Director

Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation

Robin Phillips, Executive Director

The Advocates for Human Rights

Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Director of Middle East North Africa Programme

Amnesty International

Kamran Ashtary, Executive Director

Arseh Sevom

Thomas Hughes, Executive Director

ARTICLE 19

Md. Ashrafuzzaman, Liaison Officer

Asian Legal Resource Center

Alirza Quluncu, Representative

The Association for Defence of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners in Iran

Duman Radmehr, Executive Director

Association for Human Rights of the Azerbaijani People in Iran

Taimoor Aliassi, UN Representative

Association pour les Droits Humains au Kurdistan d’Iran-Genève (KMMK-G)

Diane Ala’i, Representative to the United Nations


Bahá’í International Community

Mansoor Bibak, Co-Director

Balochistan Human Rights Group

Renate Bloem, UN Geneva Representative


CIVICUS

Steering Committee

Committee of Human Rights Reporters

Joel Simon, Executive Director

Committee to Protect Journalists

Juana Kweitel, Program Director

Conectas Direitos Humanos

Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Founder and President

Center for Supporters of Human Rights

Hassan Shire, Executive Director

East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project

Raphaël Chenuil-Hazan, Executive Director

Ensemble Contre La Peine de Mort (ECPM)

Ibrahim Al Arabi, Executive Director

European Ahwazi Human Rights Organisation

Keyvan Rafiee, Executive Director

Human Rights Activists in Iran

Sarah Leah Whitson, Director of the Middle East and North Africa Division

Human Rights Watch

Mani Mostofi, Director

Impact Iran

Mohammad Nayyeri, Director

Insight Iran

Hadi Ghaemi, Executive Director

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

Jessica Stern, Executive Director

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission

Phil Lynch, Director

International Service for Human Rights

Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam, Executive Director

Iran Human Rights

Saghi Ghahraman, President

Iranian Queer Organization (IRQO)

Shadi Sadr, Co-Director

Justice for Iran

Tara Fatehi, Spokesperson

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network

Mehrangiz Kar, Chairperson

Siamak Pourzand Foundation

Mahmood Enayat, Director

Small Media

Hassan Nayeb Hashem, Representative to the Human Rights Council in Geneva

Südwind: All Human Rights for All in Iran

Firuzeh Mahmoudi, Executive Director

United for Iran

Mohammad Mostafaei, Directeur

Universal Tolerance

Shadi Amin, Coordinator

6Rang: Iranian Lesbian and Transgender Network 

FACT SHEET: 2015 update on the human rights situation in Iran

Iran faces a chronic situation in which serious violations of human rights continue to be perpetrated by the authorities, particularly Iran’s security, intelligence and judiciary authorities. Below are some key indicators.

Death penalty

Iran has had the highest per capita execution rate in the world for several years in a row. It retains the death penalty for a wide range of offences, including broad and ill- defined crimes such as “sowing corruption on earth,” as well as  some offences that do not constitute “most serious crimes” under international law.  The number of executions in the country has reportedly increased in recent years, from at least 580 executions in 2012, to 687 executions in 2013, to753 executions in 2014. Some executions are carried out in public.

In many cases, courts imposed death sentences after proceedings that failed to respect international fair trial standards, including by accepting as evidence “confessions” elicited under torture or other ill-treatment. Detainees on death row were frequently denied access to legal counsel during pre-trial investigations.

Scores of juvenile offenders, including some sentenced in previous years for crimes committed under the age of 18, remain on death row; others were executed. The revised Islamic Penal Code allows the execution of juvenile offenders for qesas (retribution) and hodoud (offences carrying fixed penalties prescribed by Islamic law), unless a judge determines that the offender did not understand the nature of the crime or its consequences, or the offender’s mental capacity is in doubt. Saman Naseem, who was arrested when aged 17, was sentenced to death on charges of Moharebeh (“waging war against God”) and Ifsad Fil Arz (“corruption on earth”) for his alleged involvement in armed activities. Security authorities allegedly tortured him in detention to force a “confession.” Rights group Iran Human Rights identified at least 14 executions in 2014 of persons who may have been under the age of 18 at the time of the crimes for which they were convicted.

The revised Islamic Penal Code also retains the penalty of stoning to death for the offense of adultery. At least one stoning sentence was reported to have been issued in Ghaemshahr, Mazandaran province in July 2014. No execution by stoning has been reported since 2009.

Women’s rights

Despite minor improvements under President Rouhani’s administration, such as the lifting of many gender-based quotas in universities, women in Iran remain subject to widespread and systematic discrimination in law and practice. Official policies aimed at restricting female employment and encouraging women to stay at home and pursue “traditional” roles as wives and mothers continued. While women occupy about half of all university student places, their economic participation in Iran is only 12.8%, five times lower than men, according to government figures. Personal status laws that accord women subordinate status to men in matters such as marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance remain in force.

Two population-related draft bills that remain under parliamentary consideration threaten to reduce women’s access to sexual and reproductive health services. One draft bill proposes to prevent surgical procedures that permanently prevent pregnancies and imposes criminal punishments on health professionals who preform such procedures. The other bill seeks to reduce divorces and remove family disputes from the courts in favor of mediation.

A peaceful gathering in front of the Iranian Parliament in Tehran on October 22, 2014, during which demonstrators demanded a government response to a spate of acid attacks against girls and women across Iran, ended with the beating and arrest of some of the protesters by security agents. Authorities forcibly dispersed another gathering outside the Iranian Judiciary building in Isfahan, with plainclothes agents using batons and tear gas against the demonstrators. Authorities held women’s rights activist Mahdieh Golroo, one of the participants arrested after attending the peaceful protest outside the parliament building, for three months, only releasing her on bail on January 27, 2015.

Rights of minorities

Religious and ethnic minorities continue to face violations of their rights, both in law and policy. Members of the Bahá’í faith are systematically deprived of the rights to university education, state employment and business licenses, and to hold religious gatherings. In January 2015, at least 100 Bahá’í were imprisoned for their religious and community activity. Christian converts, including those involved in informal house churches, face arrest and imprisonment. At least five members of the Sufi Muslim Gonabadi Dervish community remain behind bars, for the peaceful exercise of their basic rights.

Despite constitutional guarantees of equality, members of ethnic minorities, including Ahwazi Arabs, Azeri Turks, Baluch, Kurds, and Turkmen, continue to face a range of discriminatory laws and practices, affecting their access to basic services such as housing, clean water and sanitation, employment and education. Despite some minor opening, the Iranian authorities continue to deny ethnic minority communities the right to learn their mother language, particularly at the early stage in education.  Members of minority groups, particularly those who seek greater recognition of their cultural and linguistic rights, face persecution, including arrest and imprisonment. Five members of Yeni GAMOH, an Iran-based Azerbaijani-Turkish organization, are serving nine years in prison reportedly for charges steaming from their cultural and political advocacy.

Freedom of expression and the media

Attacks on the freedom of expression have increased in the past year, which has seen a sharp rise in arrests for internet-related offenses, as well as continuing arrests of journalists and bloggers and the enforced closure of newspapers. With at least 30 journalists in prison at the start of 2015, Iran is the second leading state in detaining journalists globally according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The Tehran correspondent for the Washington Post, Iranian-American journalist Jason Rezaian, had—as of this briefing—been detained for over six months without access to a lawyer or publicly disclosed charges. In November 2014 Iranian officials said that Jason Rezaian would “soon” be released.

Since October 2013, at least seven domestic publications—Bahar, Aseman, Ghanoon, Roozan, Ebtekar, 9 of Deyand Ya Al Sarat Al Hossein—have been temporarily or permanently shut down by authorities.

In April 2014, Iran’s Revolutionary Court sentenced eight young Iranians active on Facebook to a total of 127 yearsin prison, which an appeals court later reduced to 114 years. The courts found them guilty of “acting against national security,” “spreading propaganda against the state” and “insulting Islam and state officials.” In November 2014, Iran’sSupreme Court upheld a death sentence for Soheil Arabi “insulting the Prophet” in posts on Facebook. The Supreme Court’s ruling also, arbitrarily and unlawfully, added a new charge to Soheil Arabi’s conviction of “corruption on earth.”

Prisoners of conscience and political prisoners

Iran continues to hold hundreds of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience unlawfully detained for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, assembly or religion, according to the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. These prisoners include journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders, artists, bloggers, aid workers, members of the political opposition, student activists, and ethnic and religious minority activists. Many others are being held after being prosecuted and convicted by Revolutionary Courts in unfair trials that failed to meet international fair trial standards, raising serious questions regarding whether they were also targeted for exercising their basic rights. Many detainees have reported facing torture and ill treatment, including severe beatings, mock executions, and prolonged solitary confinement.

Human rights defenders currently detained in Iranian prisons include lawyer Abdolfattah Soltani, and journalist Mohammad Saddigh Kaboudvand, who is also a member of Iran’s Kurdish minority, whose detentions have been found to be arbitrary by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Iranian Green Movement figures and former presidential election candidates, Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, and Zahra Rahnavard, Mir Hossein Mousavi’s wife and a prominent academic and political figure, have been under extrajudicial house arrest with no charges or legal proceedings since February 2011.