UN Warns About Deteriorating Human Rights Situation In Iran

Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy Human Rights Chief, presented a report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday saying that the situation in the Islamic Republic aggravated against the backdrop of continuously worsening socio-economic conditions and sanctions.

The report examines developments since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on September 16which sparked widespread protests throughout the country.

According to the report, there has been a spike in death sentences and executions during the period.

“In 2022, 582 people were executed”, noted the Deputy High Commissioner of UN human rights office OHCHR.

“That is a 75 per cent increase compared to 2021 during which 333 people were reportedly executed. There were three children among those executed in 2022. Of the total number of executions, 256 were for drug-related offences.”

This year alone, that number is already in the hundreds. However, while the UN voices concern for human rights in Iran, it has appointed Iran's UN ambassador Ali Bahraini to the chair of the UN Human Rights Council 2023 Social Forum, drawing global outrage.

Around 20,000 people are estimated to have been detained during the protests, added the report.

“Thousands of children are estimated to have been among those arrested during the protests, while at least 44 children, including 10 girls, were reportedly killed by security forces using lethal force.”

“There have been numerous allegations of torture and ill-treatment of individuals by security forces during arrest and interrogation to extract forced confessions as well as allegations of sexual and gender-based violence committed against women, men and children, especially in detention,” said Al-Nashif.

She also noted that as of March 2, more than 1,000 students, the majority of whom are female, had reportedly been affected by suspected poisoning across 91 schools in 20 provinces.