Iran regime’s human rights record continued its downward spiral in 2023, according to a scathing report by Amnesty International. The report, titled “The State of the World’s Human Rights: April 2024” details a systematic crackdown on dissent, widespread torture, and a surging use of the death penalty.
The report comes in the wake of the 2022 protests, a nationwide movement sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman arrested for violating Iran’s compulsory veiling laws. The report paints a grim picture of the Iranian regime’s response to these protests, highlighting a series of repressive measures aimed at silencing dissent.
Crackdown on Freedoms:
Amnesty International documented a systematic effort by Iranian regime authorities to suppress basic human rights. Freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly came under heavy fire. The report details the use of censorship, jamming of satellite television channels, and the continued blocking of social media platforms. An internet blackout was also employed to disrupt communication during anticipated protests.
Security forces resorted to brutal tactics to quell dissent. Protests were met with unlawful force, mass arrests, and violence. Thousands of individuals, including protesters, journalists, human rights defenders, and even bystanders, faced interrogation, arbitrary detention, and unjust prosecutions for peacefully exercising their rights.
Systematic Abuses:
The report exposes a pattern of systematic human rights abuses by Iranian regime authorities. Enforced disappearances, torture, and other forms of ill-treatment were documented as widespread practices. Detainees were subjected to beatings, floggings, electric shocks, mock executions, and denial of basic necessities. Torture-tainted “confessions” were reportedly extracted and used as evidence in unfair trials.
Women and girls faced a particularly harsh reality. Regime authorities intensified their enforcement of compulsory veiling laws, implementing measures that violated social, economic, and cultural rights. These included sending threatening SMS warnings to women, immobilizing vehicles driven by women without proper head coverings, and denying basic services to those deemed non-compliant. The report also details the tragic death of 16-year-old Armita Garawand, who fell into a coma after an alleged confrontation with an enforcer of veil laws.
Ethnic and religious minorities also bore the brunt of discrimination. Groups like Ahwazi Arabs, Kurds, and Baluchis faced limited access to education, employment, and political participation. The report highlights the unlawful killings of unarmed Kurdish couriers and Baluchi fuel porters by security forces. Religious minorities like Baha’is and Christians were subjected to arbitrary detention, unjust prosecution, and limitations on practicing their faith.
Spiked Executions and Impunity:
The report reveals a disturbing surge in executions in 2023. The number of executions documented by Amnesty International reached a staggering 853, the highest in eight years. Nearly half were related to drug offenses, raising concerns about the use of the death penalty for non-violent crimes. Executions were also documented for vaguely worded offenses and as a tool to silence political dissent.
Amnesty International emphasizes the lack of due process in these executions. Trials were described as grossly unfair, often relying on torture-extracted confessions and lacking basic legal safeguards. The report criticizes the Iranian regime judiciary for its lack of independence and its role in perpetuating impunity for human rights violations.
The report further condemns the continued lack of accountability for past atrocities, particularly the 1988 prison massacres, where thousands of political dissidents were extrajudicially executed. Those suspected of involvement in these crimes still hold high-ranking positions within the Iranian government. Efforts by families to seek truth and justice have been met with harassment and intimidation.
Key Takeaways
- Freedom of Expression, Association, and Assembly:
- Authorities censored media, blocked social media platforms, and disrupted internet access during protests.
- Security forces used unlawful force against protesters, resulting in injuries and mass arrests.
- Arbitrary Detention and Unfair Trials:
- Thousands were arbitrarily detained, with trials marked by due process violations and admission of torture-tainted confessions.
- Enforced Disappearances and Torture:
- Detainees were subjected to enforced disappearance, torture, and ill-treatment in detention facilities controlled by security forces.
- Discrimination Against Women and Girls:
- Women faced intensified crackdowns for defying compulsory veiling, including punitive measures like imprisonment and fines.
- Chemical attacks targeting schoolgirls were reported.
- Discrimination Against Ethnic and Religious Minorities:
- Ethnic and religious minorities faced discrimination in education, employment, and political participation.
- Discrimination against Baha’is and Christians led to arbitrary detentions and closure of businesses.
- Death Penalty and Impunity:
- Executions increased, including for non-violent offenses and acts protected by human rights.
- Impunity prevailed for unlawful killings and torture, with no public officials held accountable.
- Refugees’ and Migrants’ Rights:
- Afghan nationals faced discrimination and hate crimes, with hundreds of thousands reportedly repatriated.
- Environmental Crisis:
- Iran’s environmental crisis, including pollution and loss of natural resources, was criticized for lack of government action.
