Press Releases
UN rights expert calls for the immediate release of dual nationals
GENEVA (7 October 2016) – United Nations Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed today called on the Islamic Republic of Iran for the immediate and unconditional release of a British-Iranian national sentenced to five-years in prison for charges unknown to her, and two elderly dual nationals who are suffering from serious health conditions that require urgent and adequate medical attention. Read more
UN rights expert condemns Iran’s ‘illegal’ execution of 12 people on drug-related charges
GENEVA (29 August 2016) – The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, has expressed outrage at the execution on 27 August of 12 people, including Alireza Madadpour, on drug-related charges. Mr. Shaheed had appealed publicly on 26 August to the Iranian authorities not to go ahead with the planned executions at Karaj Central Prison. Read more
UN Expert calls on Iran to halt execution of 12 individuals expected to take place Saturday
GENEVA (26 August 2016) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, today urged the Islamic Republic of Iran to halt immediately the execution of Alireza Madadpour and 11 other individuals, reported to be scheduled for Saturday 27 August. Read more
GENEVA (8 June 2016) – Two United Nations human rights experts today said that the current wave of incitement of hatred of the Baha’i community reflected in speeches made by religious, judiciary and political officials in the Islamic Republic of Iran “has exposed the Iranian authorities’ extreme intolerance for adherents of the religious minority group.” Read more
Iran: “A travesty of justice” – UN experts condemn latest conviction of prominent rights defender
GENEVA (20 May 2016) – A group of United Nations experts expressed outrage today at the recent conviction and sentencing of Narges Mohammadi, a prominent activist and human rights defender, to 16 years’ imprisonment by a Revolutionary Court in Tehran, and called for her immediate and unconditional release. Read more
Iran: Denial of adequate medical treatment to political prisoners unacceptable – UN rights experts
GENEVA (27 April 2016) – A group of United Nations human rights experts* today warned that over a dozen political prisoners in Iran, including some prominent human rights defenders, lawyers and political activists, are at risk of death in detention due to their worsening health conditions and the continued refusal by the Iranian authorities to provide them with medical treatment. Read more
GENEVA (14 March 2016) – The United Nations the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, today raised continuing concerns about the extremely high rate of executions, especially for juvenile offenders, and fundamental flaws in the administration of justice. Iran executed at least 966 prisoners in 2015, the highest such rate in over two decades. Read more
UN human rights experts welcome freeing of Iranian-Americans and call for more releases
GENEVA (19 January 2016) – United Nations human rights experts today welcomed the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s release of four Iranian-Americans and called on Tehran to pave the way for the release of all remaining detainees unlawfully held in the country’s prisons. Read more
UN experts call on Iran to stop intimidating journalists ahead of parliamentary elections
GENEVA (11 November 2015) – The authorities in Iran should stop arresting, prosecuting and harassing journalists and online activists, and provide a safe space for freedom of expression as the country prepares for parliamentary elections early next year, UN human rights experts said today. Read more
Iran: UN rights experts outraged at the execution of two juvenile offenders
(16 October 2015) – United Nations human rights experts today expressed their outrage and profound sadness at the execution of a juvenile offender convicted for the death of her husband, whom she had been forced to marry at the age of 16, and which follows the death of a young man last week, who’d been sentenced to death at age 17. Read more
UN human rights experts call on Iran to release journalist Jason Rezaian as he awaits verdict
GENEVA (14 August 2015) – United Nations human rights experts today urged the Iranian Government to immediately release the Washington Post’s correspondent in Tehran, Jason Rezaian, who now awaits verdict after his fourth and possible final hearing earlier this week. Read more
GENEVA (5 August 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, today urged the Iranian authorities to immediately commute the death penalty recently handed down to Mohammad Ali Tehari, a well-known author of alternative medical theories practiced in Iran and abroad, and founder of Erfan-e-Halgheh (Inter-Universalism), an arts and culture institute in Tehran which promoted healing concepts. Read more
GENEVA (15 July 2015) – United Nations Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed today called on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the international community to seize the opportunity created by the agreement on Iran’s nuclear programme to address the human rights situation in the country. Read more
Silencing journalist and activists weakens protection of human rights in Iran, UN expert warns
GENEVA (5 June 2015) – The detention of journalists and human rights defenders weakens the protection of human rights of all in Iran, United Nations Special Rapporteur Ahmed Shaheed has said today, expressing serious concerns at the arbitrary and unlawful arrest, detention and prosecution of journalists and rights activists in the country. Read more
GENEVA (18 February 2015) – The United Nations Special Rapporteurs on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, and on extrajudicial executions, Christof Heyns, today urged the Islamic Republic of Iran to halt immediately the execution of Saman Naseem, a juvenile offender, reported to be scheduled for tomorrow. Read more
