OHCHR / BACHELET IRAN
22-Jun-2021
00:02:45
At the 47th session of the Human Rights Council, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, expressed concern about “widespread use” of the death penalty in Iran “and its arbitrary imposition for a range of acts that under international law do not constitute ‘most serious crimes.’" UNTV CH
Subject to the Terms of Usages of UNifeed, UNifeed materials are available free of charge for news purposes only. UNifeed materials may not be sold or redistributed to third parties without the prior written consent of the UN or the UN entity which is source of the UNifeed material. All users of UNifeed materials must provide due credit to the United Nations or any UN entity source(s) in their use and broadcast of UNifeed materials.
Size
Format
Acquire
DESCRIPTION
STORY: OHCHR / BACHELET IRAN
TRT: 02:45
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 22 JUN 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE
TRT: 02:45
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 22 JUN 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE
SHOTLIST
RECENT, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, exterior Palais des Nations
22 JUN 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Wide shot, Human Rights Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“The Secretary-General continues to be deeply concerned by widespread use of the death penalty and its arbitrary imposition for a range of acts that under international law do not constitute ‘most serious crimes’. In violation of human rights law, death sentences are also frequently imposed based on forced confessions extracted through torture or after serious violations of the right to a fair trial.”
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"So far in 2021, at least 95 people have been executed in Iran, six of them women. Over 80 child offenders are on death row, with at least four at risk of imminent execution. There has been an increase in executions for drug-related crimes, in particular of individuals from ethnic and religious minorities."
6. Wide shot, HRC
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"To date, there has been no accountability for any of the gross human rights violations committed by security forces in response to protests. Neither has there been any notable effort to address large numbers of documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of children, women, and men, linked to the justice system's reliance on forced confessions. In this as in many other respects, persistent impunity for human rights violations remains a crucial concern."
8. Med shot, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Other lawyers – as well as numerous civil society activists – have been imprisoned for advocating women's rights and an end to compulsory veiling laws. The law on Preserving the Dignity and Protection of Women Against Violence, which is currently before Parliament, is a step forward in criminalizing violence and sexual harassment of girls and women, but it fails to provide effective guarantees to protect women against violence, or to ensure remedies. It also does not criminalize child marriage or marital rape and fails to repeal the multiple discriminatory provisions against women in Iran's Civil Code.”
10. Wide shot, HRC
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“The Secretary-General's report welcomes the release of Narges Mohammadi, a female journalist and former deputy director of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre. Regrettably, last month she was again arbitrarily convicted, and was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment and 80 lashes – prohibited under international human rights law, and part of a pattern in which new charges are brought against human rights defenders and political prisoners to prevent their release or return them to prison. The report also confirms consistent testimony of mistreatment of prisoners, including widespread and extended use of solitary confinement – used as a form or punishment and to prevent information from inside the prison to reach the outside world.”
12. Wide shot, HRC
1. Wide shot, exterior Palais des Nations
22 JUN 2021, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. Wide shot, Human Rights Council
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“The Secretary-General continues to be deeply concerned by widespread use of the death penalty and its arbitrary imposition for a range of acts that under international law do not constitute ‘most serious crimes’. In violation of human rights law, death sentences are also frequently imposed based on forced confessions extracted through torture or after serious violations of the right to a fair trial.”
4. Med shot, journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"So far in 2021, at least 95 people have been executed in Iran, six of them women. Over 80 child offenders are on death row, with at least four at risk of imminent execution. There has been an increase in executions for drug-related crimes, in particular of individuals from ethnic and religious minorities."
6. Wide shot, HRC
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
"To date, there has been no accountability for any of the gross human rights violations committed by security forces in response to protests. Neither has there been any notable effort to address large numbers of documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of children, women, and men, linked to the justice system's reliance on forced confessions. In this as in many other respects, persistent impunity for human rights violations remains a crucial concern."
8. Med shot, journalists
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“Other lawyers – as well as numerous civil society activists – have been imprisoned for advocating women's rights and an end to compulsory veiling laws. The law on Preserving the Dignity and Protection of Women Against Violence, which is currently before Parliament, is a step forward in criminalizing violence and sexual harassment of girls and women, but it fails to provide effective guarantees to protect women against violence, or to ensure remedies. It also does not criminalize child marriage or marital rape and fails to repeal the multiple discriminatory provisions against women in Iran's Civil Code.”
10. Wide shot, HRC
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Michelle Bachelet UN High Commissioner for Human Rights:
“The Secretary-General's report welcomes the release of Narges Mohammadi, a female journalist and former deputy director of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre. Regrettably, last month she was again arbitrarily convicted, and was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment and 80 lashes – prohibited under international human rights law, and part of a pattern in which new charges are brought against human rights defenders and political prisoners to prevent their release or return them to prison. The report also confirms consistent testimony of mistreatment of prisoners, including widespread and extended use of solitary confinement – used as a form or punishment and to prevent information from inside the prison to reach the outside world.”
12. Wide shot, HRC
STORYLINE
At the 47th session of the Human Rights Council, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, today (22 Jun) expressed concern about “widespread use” of the death penalty in Iran “and its arbitrary imposition for a range of acts that under international law do not constitute ‘most serious crimes.’"
Presenting an oral update on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Bachelet said, “in violation of human rights law, death sentences are also frequently imposed based on forced confessions extracted through torture or after serious violations of the right to a fair trial.”
Economically, the country is facing deteriorating living standards, high inflation, and widespread unemployment, fuelling discontent and protests. At the political level, the authorities have shown no willingness to adopt meaningful reforms. Sectoral sanctions have aggravated economic distress, and the COVID-19 pandemic has badly hurt the already strained health sector. Michelle Bachelet reiterated the appeal to waive sanctions that could undermine Iran's capacity to respond to the pandemic, the existence of sanctions does not remove the State's responsibility to respond to the pandemic in line with human rights law – for example, providing adequate prevention and treatment measures in prisons.
In 2020, at least 267 people, including nine women, were executed – but only 91 of these executions were announced.
Bachelet said, “so far in 2021, at least 95 people have been executed in Iran, six of them women. Over 80 child offenders are on death row, with at least four at risk of imminent execution. There has been an increase in executions for drug-related crimes, in particular of individuals from ethnic and religious minorities.”
Last year at least 69 Kurdish individuals were executed, including some after convictions under vaguely defined charges – “acting against national security” or “membership of Salafi groups”. Many individuals from the Arab minority remain on death row or have been subjected to enforced disappearance following arrest. Three were executed in secret on 28 February. There also appears to be an increase in executions of members of the Baloch minority and other minority groups.
The report documents additional violations faced by ethnic, religious, and other minorities.
The High Commissioner said, “to date, there has been no accountability for any of the gross human rights violations committed by security forces in response to protests. Neither has there been any notable effort to address large numbers of documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of children, women and men, linked to the justice system's reliance on forced confessions. In this as in many other respects, persistent impunity for human rights violations remains a crucial concern."
A range of measures have undermined the independence of Iran's bar associations, and several lawyers have been charged or convicted on national security charges for participating in workshops outside Iran, or simply for defending their clients.
Other lawyers as well as numerous civil society activists, she added, “have been imprisoned for advocating women's rights and an end to compulsory veiling laws.”
Bachelet said the law on Preserving the Dignity and Protection of Women Against Violence, currently before Parliament, “is a step forward in criminalizing violence and sexual harassment of girls and women, but it fails to provide effective guarantees to protect women against violence, or to ensure remedies. It also does not criminalize child marriage or marital rape and fails to repeal the multiple discriminatory provisions against women in Iran's Civil Code.”
The Sentence Reduction Law, which entered into force last year, is a positive step and has led to the release of some imprisoned human rights offenders.
The High Commissioner said, “the Secretary-General's report welcomes the release of Narges Mohammadi, a female journalist and former deputy director of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre. Regrettably, last month she was again arbitrarily convicted, and was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment and 80 lashes – prohibited under international human rights law, and part of a pattern in which new charges are brought against human rights defenders and political prisoners to prevent their release or return them to prison.”
The report, she said, “also confirms consistent testimony of mistreatment of prisoners, including widespread and extended use of solitary confinement – used as a form or punishment and to prevent information from inside the prison to reach the outside world.”
The report covers the period from 1 June 2020 to 17 March 2021.
Presenting an oral update on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Bachelet said, “in violation of human rights law, death sentences are also frequently imposed based on forced confessions extracted through torture or after serious violations of the right to a fair trial.”
Economically, the country is facing deteriorating living standards, high inflation, and widespread unemployment, fuelling discontent and protests. At the political level, the authorities have shown no willingness to adopt meaningful reforms. Sectoral sanctions have aggravated economic distress, and the COVID-19 pandemic has badly hurt the already strained health sector. Michelle Bachelet reiterated the appeal to waive sanctions that could undermine Iran's capacity to respond to the pandemic, the existence of sanctions does not remove the State's responsibility to respond to the pandemic in line with human rights law – for example, providing adequate prevention and treatment measures in prisons.
In 2020, at least 267 people, including nine women, were executed – but only 91 of these executions were announced.
Bachelet said, “so far in 2021, at least 95 people have been executed in Iran, six of them women. Over 80 child offenders are on death row, with at least four at risk of imminent execution. There has been an increase in executions for drug-related crimes, in particular of individuals from ethnic and religious minorities.”
Last year at least 69 Kurdish individuals were executed, including some after convictions under vaguely defined charges – “acting against national security” or “membership of Salafi groups”. Many individuals from the Arab minority remain on death row or have been subjected to enforced disappearance following arrest. Three were executed in secret on 28 February. There also appears to be an increase in executions of members of the Baloch minority and other minority groups.
The report documents additional violations faced by ethnic, religious, and other minorities.
The High Commissioner said, “to date, there has been no accountability for any of the gross human rights violations committed by security forces in response to protests. Neither has there been any notable effort to address large numbers of documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of children, women and men, linked to the justice system's reliance on forced confessions. In this as in many other respects, persistent impunity for human rights violations remains a crucial concern."
A range of measures have undermined the independence of Iran's bar associations, and several lawyers have been charged or convicted on national security charges for participating in workshops outside Iran, or simply for defending their clients.
Other lawyers as well as numerous civil society activists, she added, “have been imprisoned for advocating women's rights and an end to compulsory veiling laws.”
Bachelet said the law on Preserving the Dignity and Protection of Women Against Violence, currently before Parliament, “is a step forward in criminalizing violence and sexual harassment of girls and women, but it fails to provide effective guarantees to protect women against violence, or to ensure remedies. It also does not criminalize child marriage or marital rape and fails to repeal the multiple discriminatory provisions against women in Iran's Civil Code.”
The Sentence Reduction Law, which entered into force last year, is a positive step and has led to the release of some imprisoned human rights offenders.
The High Commissioner said, “the Secretary-General's report welcomes the release of Narges Mohammadi, a female journalist and former deputy director of the Defenders of Human Rights Centre. Regrettably, last month she was again arbitrarily convicted, and was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment and 80 lashes – prohibited under international human rights law, and part of a pattern in which new charges are brought against human rights defenders and political prisoners to prevent their release or return them to prison.”
The report, she said, “also confirms consistent testimony of mistreatment of prisoners, including widespread and extended use of solitary confinement – used as a form or punishment and to prevent information from inside the prison to reach the outside world.”
The report covers the period from 1 June 2020 to 17 March 2021.
Category
Topical Subjects
Personal Subjects
Geographic Subjects
Corporate Subjects
Source
Alternate Title
unifeed210622f