View this profile on Instagram

Impact Iran (@impactiran) • Instagram photos and videos

24/09/2013 Press Releases (Shaheed)

UN expert hails release of rights defender Nasrin Sotoudeh, and urges government to free remaining ones

GENEVA (23 September 2013) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, has welcomed the recent release of a number of prisoners of conscience, and renewed his call for the release of hundreds of other prisoners detained “solely for exercising their rights to freedoms of expression, association and assembly.”

“This recent step taken by the Iranian Government to release more than a dozen prisoners of conscience, including Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights activist and lawyer, is a step in the right direction in advancing Iran’s international human rights obligations,” Mr. Shaheed said. Among those released last week were Ms. Mahboubeh Karami, human rights activist and member of the One Million Signatures Campaign, and Ms. Jila Karamzadeh-Makvandi, supporter of the Mourning Mothers of Laleh Park.

“I urge the Government to take further steps to ensure the unconditional release of all political prisoners and to advance the campaign pledges made by President Hassan Rouhani to alleviate the sources of censorship in the country,” the human rights expert said.

Stressing the pivotal role of lawyers and human rights defenders in society, the Special Rapporteur called on the Iranian authorities to release other detained lawyers and human rights activists. These include Mr. Abdolfattah Soltani and Mr. Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, who are currently serving sentences for charges that are believed to be related to their work as human rights defenders.

“It is vital for the country’s future that the voices of all its citizens are permitted to play their rightful part in crafting an inclusive future for Iran in the coming years,” Mr. Shaheed said.

He renewed his call on the Government to engage meaningfully and constructively with the UN human rights system to improve the country’s human rights record. He expressed hope that there will be opportunities for dialogue with the administration of President Rouhani and reiterated his continued interest in visiting Iran.

Since his appointment in August 2011, Mr. Shaheed has made several official requests to the Government of Iran to visit the country.

UPCOMING EVENTS

(all times in EST)

26 09 23
  • International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

    26 09 23

27 09 23
  • World Tourism Day

    27 09 23

28 09 23
  • International Day for Universal Access to Information

    28 09 23

  • World Maritime Day

    28 09 23

  • World Rabies Day

    28 09 23

30 09 23
  • International Translation Day

    30 09 23

01 10 23
  • International Day of Older Persons

    01 10 23

02 10 23
  • International Day of Non-Violence

    02 10 23

  • World Habitat Day

    02 10 23

05 10 23
  • World Teachers’ Day

    05 10 23

09 10 23
  • World Post Day

    09 10 23

10 10 23
  • World Mental Health Day

    10 10 23

11 10 23
  • International Day of the Girl Child

    11 10 23

13 10 23
  • International Day for Disaster Reduction

    13 10 23

15 10 23
  • International Day of Rural Women

    15 10 23

16 10 23
  • World Food Day

    16 10 23

17 10 23
  • International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

    17 10 23

24 10 23
  • United Nations Day

    24 10 23

  • World Development Information Day

    24 10 23

27 10 23
  • World Day for Audiovisual Heritage

    27 10 23

31 10 23
  • World Cities Day

    31 10 23

02 11 23
  • International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists

    02 11 23

05 11 23
  • World Tsunami Awareness Day

    05 11 23

06 11 23
  • International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict

    06 11 23

10 11 23
  • World Science Day for Peace and Development

    10 11 23

14 11 23
  • World Diabetes Day

    14 11 23

16 11 23
  • International Day for Tolerance

    16 11 23

  • World Philosophy Day

    16 11 23

19 11 23
  • World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

    19 11 23

  • World Toilet Day

    19 11 23

20 11 23
  • Africa Industrialization Day

    20 11 23

  • Universal Children’s Day

    20 11 23

21 11 23
  • World Television Day

    21 11 23

25 11 23
  • International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

    25 11 23

29 11 23
  • International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People

    29 11 23

01 12 23
  • World AIDS Day

    01 12 23

02 12 23
  • International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

    02 12 23

03 12 23
  • International Day of Persons with Disabilities

    03 12 23

05 12 23
  • International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development

    05 12 23

  • World Soil Day

    05 12 23

07 12 23
  • International Civil Aviation Day

    07 12 23

09 12 23
  • International Anti-Corruption Day

    09 12 23

  • International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime

    09 12 23

10 12 23
  • Human Rights Day

    10 12 23

11 12 23
  • International Mountain Day

    11 12 23

12 12 23
  • International Day of Neutrality

    12 12 23

18 12 23
  • Arabic Language Day

    18 12 23

  • International Migrants Day

    18 12 23

20 12 23
  • International Human Solidarity Day

    20 12 23