Co-operating with the Iranian authorities to guarantee basic human rights to all is not an easy job.
The Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr Ahmed Shaheed has experienced it very often. Since the creation of the mandate (in 2011) by the United Nations Human Rights Council, Dr Shaheed hasn’t been allowed to visit the country and undertake field research and make reports with the locals. Although many countries called on Iran to co-operate with the United Nations Special Procedures, and follow up on the requests of visits of Special Rapporteurs, the country still continues to refuse any kind of partnership or support.
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| (Source: shaheedoniran.org) |
Therefore, Dr Shaheed has followed the evolution of human rights in Iran with the help of his Special Rapporteur colleagues and other sources and means. This was also the case in relation to his latest report, released in early March. As he highlights, “information for the present report was gathered during a fact-finding mission to Germany, Norway and Denmark, during which 39 interviews were conducted with victims and activists within the Iranian diaspora.” More than hundred, further interviews were conducted with people in Iran, by telephone and video-conferencing. As Dr Shaheed explains, he also “reviewed information contained in open letters, confidential communications; news reports and broadcasts produced by domestic media outlets in the country; official statements [..]” and so on.
In the report, Dr Shaheed recognises a number of efforts by the Iranian government to implement the 2010 UPR commitments, but regrets that a majority of them remained outstanding. Beside describing his findings, the Special Rapporteur elaborates several recommendations. Amongst other things, he recommends that:
“Authorities should immediately nullify the death sentences against all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience [..] and others, whose alleged actions do not constitute a serious crime under international law.”
“The Government should amend laws and policies, and reconsider draft legislation that infringes on the right to freely associate and assemble with expressive groups or like-minded individuals, or to promote peaceful ideals and activities.”
He also “calls on the Government to amend laws that violate the rights of women, or that undermine their full enjoyment of civil, political, social, and economic rights, including the right to work and to freedom from discrimination, especially in education and at the workplace.”
Not surprisingly, the report was not welcome among Iranian officials. The Spokeswoman of Iran's Foreign Ministry described the report by the UN Special Rapporteur as “unfair and unscientific”, saying that the report is politically-motivated. She noted that, “The issue of human right should be viewed quite technically, and our country’s progress and realities should be seriously noticed.”