The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has called today to immediately release thousands of protesters who have been arbitrarily deprived of their liberty while exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of expression, and to stop using the death penalty as a tool to squash protests.
“As of the 12th of November, excessive use of force used by security forces has led to the killing of at least 326 individuals, including 43 children and 25 women,” told OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence a news briefing at the United Nations in Geneva.
The UN Human Rights Office recalled, that under international law, countries that have not yet abolished the death penalty may only impose it for the “most serious crimes” which is interpreted as crimes of extreme gravity, involving intentional killing.
“We therefore call on the Iranian authorities to immediately impose a moratorium on the death penalty, and to refrain from charging capital crimes, and to revoke death sentences issued for crimes not qualifying as the most serious crimes,” said OHCHR’s Jeremy Laurence.
Protests against Iran's government erupted two months ago after the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly breaking the strict hijab rules. Demonstrations are reported to have spread to 140 cities and towns and evolved into the most significant challenge to the Islamic Republic in over a decade.
Instead of opening space for dialogue on legitimate grievances, the authorities are responding to unprecedented protests with increasing severity, according to OHCHR.
“On Sunday, an Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran found an unnamed protester guilty of moharebeh, or ‘waging war against God’, and efsad-e-fel-arz, or ‘corruption on earth’ for allegedly damaging public property and the person was sentenced to death.”
OHCHR reported that the Tehran prosecutor said that more than 1,000 indictments had been issued against those arrested in relation to protest in Tehran province alone. Hundreds of other indictments have been issued in the rest of the country.
“We urge the authorities to immediately release all those detained in connection to peaceful protests, and to drop the charges against them”, said Jeremy Laurence. He added that «human rights law protects the rights of people to peaceful assembly and to freedom of expression.”
The UN Human Rights Council will hold a special session to address “the deteriorating human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran” on Thursday, 24 November.
-ends-
- Medium shot, UN Geneva flag alley.
- Wide shot, press room with panel of speakers.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), OHCHR spokesperson, Jeremy Laurence: “As of the 12th of November, excessive use of force used by security forces has led to the killing of at least 326 individuals, including 43 children and 25 women.”
- Medium shot, camerawomen filming, staff monitoring.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), OHCHR spokesperson, Jeremy Laurence: “On Sunday, an Islamic Revolutionary Court in Tehran found an unnamed protester guilty of moharebeh, or ‘waging war against God’, and efsad-e-fel-arz, or ‘corruption on earth’ for allegedly damaging public property and the person was sentenced to death.”
- Medium shot, journalists taking notes.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), OHCHR spokesperson, Jeremy Laurence: “We urge the authorities to immediately release all those detained in connection to peaceful protests, and to drop the charges against them. Human rights law protects the rights of people to peaceful assembly and to freedom of expression.”
- Medium shot, staff monitoring, journalists taking notes.
- SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH), OHCHR spokesperson, Jeremy Laurence: “We therefore call on the Iranian authorities to immediately impose a moratorium on the death penalty, and to refrain from charging capital crimes, and to revoke death sentences issued for crimes not qualifying as the most serious crimes.”
- Close-up shot, journalists taking notes.
- Medium shot, press room with panel of speakers.
- Close-up shot, journalists taking notes.
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
Institutionalised forced labour by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea constitutes grave violations of human rights – UN report
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
Time is running out for starving civilians in Sudan, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday, while talks involving the country’s warring parties continue in Geneva this week.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
DRC faces a severe humanitarian crisis with 25M in need and rising conflict-related issues.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA
A gimmer of good news emerged from Gaza on Tuesday as patients returned to at a newly reopened UN health centre in Khan Younis, six months after it was severely damaged and forced to close by heavy fighting, the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) said.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN condemns attacks on Kyiv hospitals, calls for immediate action to protect civilians.
1
1
2
Edited News | WHO
In Gaza, soaring temperatures, hunger and unsanitary conditions present an ever more deadly threat to a population under constant attack, UN humanitarians warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , WMO , IFRC
Hurricane Beryl smashes into Caribbean, turns sights on Mexico As Hurricane Beryl’s destructive path shifted to Mexico on Friday after roiling the Caribbean, UN agencies and partners said that the emergency response was underway, before warning that a very long and damaging hurricane season looks increasingly likely.
1
1
2
Edited News | IOM , mcc , UNHCR
Refugees and migrants continue to face extreme forms of violence, exploitation and death on sea and on land across Africa as they attempt to leave the continent, UN agencies said on Friday, in an appeal to border authorities to do more to protect them.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk at the 56th Human Rigths Council, made the following update on the situation of human rights in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , WHO
New evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army for areas in southern Gaza are expected to impact 250,000 people, including eastern Khan Younis and Rafah, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNRWA , WHO
Gaza: People are desperate, they need everything, says UN aid agency Panic and desperation now grip ordinary Gazans struggling to survive, UN humanitarians said on Friday, amid fuel shortages of fuel and dwindling supplies that have prevented aid teams from doing their job.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
UN aid teams and partner organizations remain deeply committed to delivering lifesaving supplies into Gaza, despite the increasing dangers of working there, the Organization’s top aid official said on Wednesday.