The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) announced the results of its investigation into Iran and six other countries during a press conference on 23 August 2024.
CERD had previously examined these seven countries’ cases in a recent meeting in Geneva, where questions about racial discrimination and the status of ethnic, religious, and other minorities were raised. These issues have become particularly pressing following the widespread protests that erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022.
Michał Balcerzak, the committee’s special rapporteur on Iran, expressed deep concern about deficiencies in the implementation of justice and the aftermath of the protests in Iran. The committee has requested that the Iranian government respond to the raised questions within one year.
Balcerzak stated that while Iranian regime representatives had addressed some concerns, many recommendations were still presented to them. He emphasized, that they will continue to follow up and will not close this case quickly or revisit it after five or seven years.
The rapporteur clarified that CERD is not the only UN-related organization addressing human rights in Iran. He referenced reports from the UN’s independent fact-finding committee regarding the suppression of protesters in Iran, emphasizing that CERD is part of a broader ecosystem working to effect change in cooperation with civil society and other actors.
In August 2024, the UN Human Rights Council’s fact-finding committee published a report highlighting the situation of racial and religious minorities in Iran. The report emphasized that Kurdish and Baloch minorities, in particular, have been disproportionately affected by racial discrimination and regime repression. Cases of extrajudicial executions, unnecessary use of deadly force, arbitrary arrests, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, and gender-based harassment were cited, with many potentially constituting “crimes against humanity.”
Racial discrimination in Iran has become a critical and controversial issue both domestically and internationally. The Iranian regime has faced severe criticism for implementing policies that systematically target ethnic and religious minorities, including Kurds, Baloch, Arabs, Turkmens, and Baha’is, who are often deprived of basic rights and face extensive pressures.
These discriminatory practices extend beyond social and cultural spheres to economic, educational, and even healthcare access. In recent years, as popular discontent and protests have increased, the Iranian government has intensified its repression against these minorities. Many have been subjected to arbitrary arrests, torture, and even extrajudicial executions based on their ethnic or religious identity, often with limited access to legal representation and fair trials.
Government development policies in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities often lead to further marginalization and poverty. These programs, implemented without considering the needs and cultural rights of these groups, have in many cases resulted in the destruction of their environment and traditional livelihoods. For instance, dam construction and water transfer projects have led to the loss of agricultural land and vital water resources for ethnic minorities.
Racial discrimination is also evident in the education system, where children from ethnic and religious minorities face restrictions on access to mother-tongue education and the imposition of majority cultural identity. These pressures have led to high dropout rates and the erosion of cultural and linguistic identities.
The escalation of discriminatory policies in recent years has created a serious human rights crisis in Iran. This situation not only threatens the security and human dignity of these minorities but also weakens national solidarity and increases social dissatisfaction across the country. The continuation of these practices could have severe consequences for Iran’s future and its human rights situation.
As international bodies continue to monitor and report on these issues, the Iranian government faces increasing pressure to address these concerns and uphold its international obligations regarding the rights of ethnic and religious minorities.
