New report by Javid Rahman; Severe oppression in the November 2019 protests
4-September-2020
Category: Freedom of Expression
Breathing in Confinement: On September 3, 2020, Javid Rahman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, released his latest report on human rights violations in Iran.
According to Breathing in Confinement, the news organ of the Prisoners’ Rights League in Iran, in this report, Javid Rahman, expressed his concerns over the violent crackdown on the November 2019 protests, the crackdown on protesters over the Kyiv-Tehran passenger plane crash, the situation of prisoners during the outbreak of Corona-virus infection, the continued use of death penalty for children as well as repression of the religious and ethnic minorities. In addition, he has mentioned the Iranian authorities’ lack of accountability.
In a report published on September 3, 2020, Javid Rahman referring to the violent suppression of the demonstrators, stated that: “Excessive force by State security forces has led to hundreds of deaths and injuries and thousands of arrests.”. The report cites to Khamenei’s order to Iranian senior officials to end the protests “whatever it takes”. He also ordered for using the Revolutionary Guards and Basij forces to “deadly crackdown” the protests.
“The use of excessive violence by security forces during the November protests demonstrate a serious violation of the ‘right to life,” said Javid Rahman. “The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a State party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is required to undertake all necessary measures to prevent arbitrary deprivation of life by law enforcement officials,” he continued.
Javid Rahman referring to the use of weapons against the protesters wrote: According to the information received throughout the protest rallies, no citizens took armed action, and “those shooting at protesters had worn security force uniforms,
shot from government buildings and used weapons and equipment associated with
security forces.” The report continued: although”Government claimed a “large number” had been killed by non-government-issued weapons, no corroborating evidence was provided.”
In his new report, Javid Rahman has also pointed out to the situation of prisoners during the Corona-virus outbreak saying: “hygiene products were in limited supply or unavailable” and that “cleaning with disinfectant products is sporadic or ineffective” In addition, “overcrowding makes physical distancing difficult to enforce”. He has referred to the inadequacy of the measures taken by the authorities to protect the lives of the prisoners. He continued that this led to the riots in prisons which were repressed violently by the security officials, leaving a number of prisoners dead.
The UN Special Rapporteur also expressed his concern over the use of the death penalty for many crimes in Iran, as well as the unfair trials leading to the death sentences.
Javid Rahman also is concerned about the continued execution of children in Iran, citing to the executions of Shayan Saeedpour and Majid Esmailzadeh, who were executed in recent months.