The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Alarming large-scale arrests and detentions since the onset of the protests in Iran, says new UN report
A record number of executions in 2022, arrests of thousands of children and numerous allegations of torture and ill-treatment of individuals by security forces feature in a new report released on Wednesday by the UN Secretary-General on the human rights situation in Iran.
“The overall human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran has markedly deteriorated against the backdrop of continuously worsening socio-economic conditions, aggravated by sanctions and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, presenting the report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The report focuses on developments since the onset of nationwide protests following the death of 22-year-old Jina Mahsa Amini on 16 September 2022, three days after she fell into a coma and died in police custody, following her arrest by Iran’s so-called Morality Police.
The report notes with serious concern the high number of death penalty sentences and executions during the reporting period.
“In 2022, 582 people were executed”, noted the Deputy High Commissioner. “That is a 75 per cent increase compared to 2021 during which 333 people were reportedly executed. There were three children among those executed in 2022. Of the total number of executions, 256 were for drug-related offences.”
According to Ms. Al-Nashif, this marks the highest rate of drug-related executions in the country since 2017.
Thousands of children are estimated to have been among those arrested during the protests, while at least 44 children, including 10 girls, were reportedly killed by security forces using lethal force. The highest number of deaths was reported in the Sistan and Baluchistan Province, where at least 10 children were killed.
“There have been numerous allegations of torture and ill-treatment of individuals by security forces during arrest and interrogation to extract forced confessions as well as allegations of sexual and gender-based violence committed against women, men and children, especially in detention,” said Ms. Al-Nashif. “Prison conditions including denial of medical care, dire sanitary conditions, contaminated drinking water and overcrowding, remain of concern.”
Since the onset of protests, respect for the rights to freedom has significantly deteriorated, the Human Rights Council heard. State policy was also found to have become more stringent in enforcing mandatory veiling and imposing harsher penalties on women and girls who fail to respect the ruling.
“On 15 August 2022, the President signed a decree which includes the introduction of face-recognition technology to track and punish unveiled women or those who actively question compulsory veiling”, said the Deputy UN Human Rights chief. “At the legislative level, new draft provisions to the Penal Code are being considered in parliament to expand the scope of offenses for non-compliance, allowing imprisonment, flogging and other punishments.”
The report also noted Iran’s failure to protect the physical and mental well-being of female students and attacks on their right to education. “As of 2 March of this year, more than 1,000 students, the majority of whom are girls, had reportedly been affected by suspected poisoning in 91 schools in 20 provinces. The authorities provided conflicting accounts of these incidents,” noted Ms Al-Nashif.
Ali Bahreini, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN in Geneva, rejected the report as inaccurate.
-ends-
SHOTLIST
- Medium shot, UN Palais with flags
- Wide shot and pan down from ceiling of the UN Human Rights Council
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights: “The overall human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran has markedly deteriorated against the backdrop of continuously worsening socio-economic conditions, aggravated by sanctions and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
- Wide shot, photographer taking pictures in the Human Rights Council room
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights: “In 2022, 582 people were executed, that is a 75 per cent increase compared to 2021 during which 333 people were reportedly executed. There were three children among those executed in 2022. Of the total number of executions, 256 were for drug-related offences.”
- Medium shot, delegates from diverse member states
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights: “There have been numerous allegations of torture and ill-treatment of individuals by security forces during arrest and interrogation to extract forced confessions as well as allegations of sexual and gender-based violence committed against women, men and children, especially in detention. As previously reported, prison conditions including denial of medical care, dire sanitary conditions, contaminated drinking water and overcrowding, remain of concern.”
- Medium shot, photographer and camerawoman at the Human Rights Room
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights: “On 15 August 2022, the President signed a decree which includes the introduction of face-recognition technology to track and punish unveiled women or those who actively question compulsory veiling. At the legislative level, new draft provisions to the Penal Code are being considered in parliament to expand the scope of offenses for non-compliance, allowing imprisonment, flogging, and other punishments.”
- Medium shot, delegates in Human Rights Room from behind with screen of speakers
- SOUNDBITE (English) – Nada Al-Nashif, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights: “The report also notes with grave concern that as of 2 March of this year, more than 1,000 students, the majority of whom are girls, had reportedly been affected by suspected poisoning in 91 schools in 20 provinces. The authorities provided conflicting accounts of these incidents. »
- Medium shot, panel with speakers
- SOUNDBITE (English) - Ali Bahreini, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of The Islamic Republic of Iran to the UN in Geneva: “The report should not represent a clumsy, inappropriate and inaccurate collection, including allegations received from newspapers and unreliable and irrelevant websites or sources known for spreading false and biased news or based on fake news published by terrorist and hostile organisations.”
- Close up, photographer
- Medium shot, delegates in Human Rights Room
- Medium shot, delegates in Human Rights Room
Similar Stories
1
1
Edited News | UNMAS
The deadly legacy of conflicts old and new from Gaza to Sudan and beyond continues to kill and maim civilians on a near-daily basis, mine action workers said on Wednesday, as they appealed for greater support for their lifesaving work in a context of deep funding cuts.
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO , UNICEF
Asia: Lives upended in cyclone disasters, ‘extreme’ rainfall on the rise - UN agencies
Across southeast Asia, record-breaking rains and flooding caused by back-to-back tropical storms have claimed hundreds of lives and brought devastation and displacement upon entire communities, UN agencies said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the bi-weekly press briefing in the Geneva on Friday the UN Human Rights Office raised grave concerns about the recent constitutional amendments adopted in Pakistan.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, UN Human Rights Spokesperson made the following comment on the most recent killings in the occupied West Bank yesterday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the bi-weekly press briefing in the Geneva on Friday the UN Human Rights Office raised concerns about the military-controlled election in Myanmar, which starts next month and will be conducted in an atmosphere rife with threats and violence putting the lives of civilians at risk.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | UNAIDS
World AIDS Day 2025: Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response
1
1
1
Edited News | UN WOMEN
Gaza women are ‘last line of protection’ for their families amid attacks, hunger and harsh winter – UN Women
Women in Gaza are ensuring their families’ survival “with nothing but courage and exhausted hands” while violence continues and essentials remain in short supply, the UN’s gender equality agency warned on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Since the ceasefire began on 27 November 2024, Israeli military strikes in Lebanon have killed at least 127 civilians. Nearly a year later, these attacks continue to increase, causing civilian deaths and damage to civilian structures.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | UNCTAD
A new report by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) finds that the prolonged military operation and long-standing restrictions have driven the economy of the Occupied Palestinian Territory into its most severe contraction on record, wiping out decades of development gains and deepening fiscal and social fragility.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , WHO , WFP
Ongoing attacks and airstrikes attributed to Israeli forces in Gaza continue to kill and maim people of all ages in the shattered enclave despite an agreed ceasefire, UN agencies said on Friday.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNICEF , OCHA
Gaza: After Security Council vote humanitarians urge aid scale-up as winter rains hit families hard
Following the UN Security Council’s Monday endorsement of a US peace plan for Gaza, UN humanitarians urged prioritizing aid access under the scheme as severe rains and flooding deepened Palestinian suffering.
1
1
1
Edited News | UNHCR , UNMAS , WHO
Just how many people are still trapped in the Sudanese city of El Fasher?
That’s the burning question for relatives of the many thousands of people believed to still be there, since paramilitary fighters overran the regional capital of North Darfur last month, after a 500-day siege.