At least 975 people were executed in Iran in 2024, the greatest number reported since 2015, according to a report Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada al-Nashif, presented to the Council based in Geneva Wednesday.
Of the total executions, just over half concerned drug -related offenses, 43% for murder, two percent for sexual offenses and three percent for security -related charges. At least four executions were carried out publicly.
“These cases are marked by serious allegations of torture and violations of the regular procedure, in particular the lack of access to a lawyer,” said Ms. Al-Nashif.
Violence and discrimination against women
At least 31 women were reportedly executed in Iran last year, compared to 22 in 2023. The 19 women executed for murder, nine had been sentenced to having killed their husbands in cases involving domestic violence or forced marriage or children, areas in which Iranian women have no legal protection.
Certain executions were reportedly linked to the demonstrations that started in September 2022 under the banner “Women, Life and Liberty”.
Beyond the executions, the cases of femicide jumped, with 179 reported in 2024 against 55 the previous year. Many come from so -called “honor” crimes or family disputes, often involving women and girls looking for divorce or rejection of marriage proposals.
Al-Nashif also warned that the chastity and hijab law suspended, if it was adopted, would constitute a serious threat to women’s rights. Sanctions for violations such as the incorrect dress could include heavy fines, travel prohibitions, a long -term imprisonment or even the death penalty.
In addition, out of the 125 journalists prosecuted in 2024, 40 were women, many of whom reported on human rights and women’s rights issues.
Religious and ethnic minorities
“In 2024, the death penalty continued to have a disproportionate impact on minority groups,” Al-Nashif told the Council.
At least 108 Baluchi and 84 Kurdish prisoners were executed in 2024, representing 11 and 9% of the total respectively.
The report has also raised concerns about the lack of official data on the socio-economic conditions of ethno-religious and ethno-religious minorities and non-citizens, which hinders efforts to assess their situation and measure the impact of targeted policies and programs.
Ahead
While Iran continued to engage with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner and other mechanisms of human rights, it denied access to Independent mission of all the facts on the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“Our office remains ready to continue and rely on his commitment to the Iranian authorities on the range of questions highlighted in the Secretary General’s report for the promotion and protection of all human rights,” concluded Ms. Al-Nashif.
The global cycle of “super elections” has undermined democratic participation
In the council’s afternoon session, Gina Romero, Special Rapporteur of the United Nations on the rights to the freedom of the Assembly and the Pacific Association,, presented her report On the way in which the “super election” cycle of 2023-2025 assigned civic space in the world.
In 2024, half of the world’s population elected its local, national and international representatives. Although Ms. Romero’s report on this cycle does not assess the integrity of the elections, it identifies the disturbing global models of systematic repression of the exercise of the peaceful assembly and association.
“The excessive use of restrictive laws, smear campaigns, disinformation targeting civil society has intensified on a global scale in the cycle of the Super Electoral, undergoing electoral participation and freedom of association,” she said.
Political repression and violence
While criminal justice systems are used to repress the opposition, leaders and members of political parties have been faced with undue restrictions and political persecution. Civil society activists and electoral observers also faced harassment, arbitrary detention, torture and murder.
“When political parties, civil society and peaceful assemblies are deleted, authentic political pluralism and competition cannot exist,” said Romero. “I emphasize that these conditions are incompatible with the free and authentic elections and risk legitimizing the non -democratic rule.”
Minority representation
Ms. Romero also stressed that the political leadership of women remains severely underrepresented, while LGBTIQ individuals and their organizations were faced with attacks during the super electoral cycle.
The two groups underwent physical and online political violence, restricting their electoral participation and accelerating the decline of their rights after the elections.
Calls to protect freedoms
In the midst of global crises and a rapid democratic decline, Ms. Romero stressed the urgent need to protect the rights of the Assembly and the Pacific Association throughout the electoral cycle.
She described key recommendations, in particular the strengthening of legal protections before the elections, ensuring responsibility subsequently, regulating digital technologies and promoting non -discriminatory participation throughout.
“Dissent is a fundamental element of democratic societies,” she concluded in Spanish. “Rather than being deleted, it must be permanently welcomed and protected.”
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
