The United Nations human rights chief revealed Wednesday that Iran has put at least 21 people to death and detained more than 4,000 individuals on national security charges since the beginning of the conflict with the United States and Israel two months ago.
According to Volker Turk, the executions included at least nine people connected to January protests, 10 individuals accused of belonging to opposition organizations, and two people facing espionage allegations.
“I am appalled that – on top of the already severe impacts of the conflict – the rights of the Iranian people continue to be stripped from them by the authorities, in harsh and brutal ways,” Turk stated.
The UN official demanded immediate action from Iranian leadership: “I call on the authorities to halt all further executions, establish a moratorium on the use of capital punishment, fully ensure due process and fair trial guarantees, and immediately release those arbitrarily detained.”
January witnessed Iran’s most significant domestic upheaval since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with government forces killing thousands during anti-government demonstrations. Human rights organizations report that authorities have intensified their suppression of dissidents throughout the ongoing conflict.
Iranian officials dismissed criticism from the UN Human Rights Council in January, labeling it as “politicized.”
The Norway-based Iran Human Rights organization reported last week that authorities have detained at least 3,646 people, with a minimum of 767 arrests documented after the ceasefire began on April 8.
Turk described disturbing treatment of detainees, stating that many among the thousands arrested “have been forcibly disappeared, tortured, or subjected to other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, including coerced – and sometimes televised – confessions and mock executions.”
The UN official noted that ethnic and religious minority members face heightened danger.
“Dozens of prisoners have been transferred to unknown locations with no information on their fate, among them human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh,” Turk reported.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi’s health has reportedly deteriorated following a heart attack, with her medical situation worsened by pre-existing chronic conditions stemming from her detention, according to Turk.
At Chabahar Prison in southeastern Iran, security personnel allegedly killed at least five individuals and wounded 21 others during confrontations with people protesting extended suspension of food distribution, Turk said. He added that two additional detainees died while in custody at another facility, with evidence suggesting they had endured torture.
