Iran’s Human Rights: Global Milestones Achieved Amidst Struggle

Over the past Persian year, from March 2023 to March 2024, Iranians achieved significant milestones regarding human rights on the global stage, despite significant repression during the Woman, Life, Freedom protests and a historic decrease in the number of executions in Iran.

This report outlines six crucial achievements from the past year.

Report of Fact-Finding Mission: Khamenei Accused of Crimes Against Humanity

The independent international fact-finding mission, established by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) during the height of protests following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, has unveiled its report on the suppression of protesters during the final days of the Persian year.

This report indicts officials of the Islamic Republic, led by Ali Khamenei, for committing "crimes against humanity," urging nations adhering to the "principle of universal jurisdiction" to pursue legal action against Iranian government figures implicated in these atrocities.

Published on March 8, after months of collecting evidence including testimonies from protesters injured or tortured in government prisons, the report was presented in written form several days ago and read on Monday, March 18, at the UNHRC.

It identifies individuals responsible for human rights abuses or complicit in inciting agents to commit crimes against humanity, though the compiled list remains confidential.

"The mission has… established that many of the serious human rights violations … amount to crimes against humanity – specifically those of murder, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution, enforced disappearance and other inhumane acts," the report said.

It also said Iranian security forces were found to have sexually assaulted detainees during the months-long uprising.

"The security forces played on social and cultural stigma connected to sexual and gender-based violence to spread fear and humiliate and punish women, men and children," the report said.

The UN report found that Iranian security forces used shotguns, assault rifles, and submachine guns against demonstrators "in situations where there was no imminent threat of death or serious injury" to them, "thereby committing unlawful and extrajudicial killings."

It also found a pattern of protesters being shot intentionally in the eye.

IranWire has reported that hundreds of Iranians have sustained severe eye injuries after being hit by pellets, tear gas canisters, paintball bullets, or other projectiles used by security forces amid a brutal crackdown on largely peaceful demonstrations.

Doctors estimate at least 580 protesters have lost one or both eyes in Tehran and Kurdistan alone. The actual numbers across the country are much higher.

Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Narges Mohammadi, Incarcerated in Evin Prison

In a historic moment, the Nobel Peace Prize of 2023 has been awarded to Narges Mohammadi, a human rights activist and political prisoner confined in Tehran's Evin prison.

This marks only the second time in history that an Iranian woman and human rights advocate has received this prestigious honour.

In an announcement on October 6, the Norwegian Nobel Committee said the prize also recognizes “the hundreds of thousands of people who, in the preceding year, have demonstrated against Iran’s theocratic regime’s policies of discrimination and oppression targeting women.”

“The motto adopted by the demonstrators – 'Woman – Life – Freedom' – suitably expresses the dedication and work of Narges Mohammadi,” the committee said.

In a statement to The New York Times, Mohammadi said the “global support and recognition of my human rights advocacy makes me more resolved, more responsible, more passionate and more hopeful.”

“I also hope this recognition makes Iranians protesting for change stronger and more organized,” the 51-year-old added. “Victory is near.”

From behind bars, Mohammadi contributed an opinion piece for the US newspaper in which she wrote: “What the government may not understand is that the more of us they lock up, the stronger we become.”

Berit Reiss-Andersen, the chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee who announced the prize in Oslo, said that the prize "is first and foremost a recognition of the very important work of a whole movement in Iran with its undisputed leader, Nargis Mohammadi.”

Reiss-Andersen said the committee hopes the prize “is an encouragement to continue the work in whichever form this movement finds to be fitting.” She also urged Iran to release Mohammadi in time for the prize ceremony on December 10.

Possibility of Extending the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur and Fact-Finding Mission

Javaid Rehman serves as the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran. 

His special mission, last extended in April last year, received the endorsement of 19 out of 47 member countries of the UNHRC, granting him another year to continue his vital work.

Since assuming this special mandate in 2018, Rehman has pursued his mission, despite Iran consistently denying him permission to enter the country.

A coalition of Iranian and international human rights organizations have issued a joint statement urging member states of the UNHRC to extend the mandates of the fact-finding mission and the special rapporteur on Iran.

The statement emphasizes the critical role these two bodies play in holding Iran accountable for human rights abuses.

"The continuation of these missions is both distinct and complementary," the statement reads. "Extending their mandates is vital for the Council to fulfil its duty of protecting and improving human rights in Iran."

The signatories express deep concern about the ongoing and serious human rights violations documented in Iran.

They highlight the fact-finding mission's discoveries, which point to "systematic violations of human rights against civilians, particularly women and girls."

Hamid Nouri's Life Sentence Confirmed by Stockholm High Court

On Wednesday, March 6, the Stockholm High Court upheld the life sentence of Hamid Nouri, the former prosecutor of Gohardasht prison.

"The Supreme Court has now decided not to grant leave to appeal. This means that the judgment of the Court of Appeal stands," a Swedish court said.

Nouri was convicted of participating in the mass executions of political prisoners in 1988 while he was an assistant prosecutor at Gohardasht prison in Iran.

Nouri was arrested in 2019 upon arrival at Stockholm airport, and his trial began in August 2021 after Swedish authorities invoked the principle of "universal jurisdiction."

He was sentenced to life in prison in 2022 by the Stockholm District Court, which convicted him of "crime against international law."

The ruling garnered significant attention online, with many celebrating it as a "victory for justice."

Plaintiffs in the case, alongside human rights activists, expressed hope that the ruling will set a precedent for holding Iranian officials accountable for human rights violations.

They emphasized the need for increased international cooperation to address such abuses in Iran.

The Iranian government, however, condemned the Swedish court's decision and took retaliatory actions, including the detention of two Swedish citizens.

Rising Human Rights Pressure from Europe, America, and Canada

On March 15, IranWire unveiled the European Union's list of sanctions targeting hundreds of officials.

This exclusive list, shared with IranWire, reveals the European Union's imposition of sanctions and punitive measures against Iranian government officials implicated in severe human rights violations.

These sanctions started in April 2011 and intensified in March 2012 due to the worsening human rights situation in Iran.

Over time, new additions have been made to the list, with many of Iran's sanctioned officials and institutions appearing in Europe's sanctions roster as of 2020. 

This reflects the combined impact of Iran's nationwide protests in recent years and the deteriorating human rights landscape within the country.

In addition to the European Union's human rights sanctions, Canada also imposed several measures against the Islamic Republic and its officials over the past year. 

Notably, the latest case involves the sanctioning of Masoud Dorosti, the CEO of Tehran Metro Company, for his involvement in the oppression of women. Following this sanction, Dorosti resigned from his position.

Expulsion of Government Officials from Canada

Once regarded as a haven for officials and affiliates of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Canada has become a dangerous place for government figures since the death of Mahsa Amini. 

Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board ordered the deportation of Seyed Salman Samani, the former deputy interior minister of Iran. 

He arrived in Canada on a visitor visa obtained in Türkiye. However, Canadian authorities questioned him about his past role in the Iranian government upon his arrival.

Samani served as the deputy interior minister of Iran from 2016 to 2021. 

Iran’s police and security forces were mobilized to suppress demonstrations that erupted in November 2019 after a sudden rise in fuel prices.

At his hearing, Samani told Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) that he was so "troubled" by the events at the time that he decided to leave the government. 

He explained that he remained on the job until August 2021 because he wanted to help in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ex-official insisted he had never been involved in human rights abuses and was not aware that the Islamic Republic was engaged in arbitrary arrests, torture, and killings.

Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) also said on December 13 that a case has been launched against Majid Iranmanesh. 

Iranmanesh has an extensive background in information technology and management and has held prominent positions in the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, and the National Iranian Youth Organization.