NCRI – The British Foreign Office's Human Rights Annual Report 2007 released on Tuesday reported that in Iran "serious human rights violations have continued and there has been significant deterioration in some of our main areas of concern, including a worrying and rapid increase in the rate of executions."
"The total number of executions in Iran is increasing year on year. Iran remains second only to China (whose population is over 15 times the size of Iran’s) in terms of total number of executions. Amnesty International estimates that Iran executed a total of 177 individuals in 2006, a sharp rise and almost double the previous year’s total of 94. There have been approximately 300 executions in 2007, including the execution of at least four juvenile offenders," the report said.
"There are reports of juveniles being kept in prison until they turn 18, when the sentence can be carried out.
"According to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extra-judicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, over 70 juvenile offenders remain on death row in Iran.
"Iran continues to deny its people the right to express their opinions freely and peacefully, and restrictions have increased over the last 18 months. Censorship of the main media has continued.
"The internet continues to be a target of government restrictions, with access to many websites and blogs (which often provide news and critical commentary) blocked. In early 2007, internet connection speeds were slowed down, probably to restrict access to foreign websites and audio-visual internet services, and an attempt was made to get all website managers and bloggers to register their websites with a government agency.
"There has been an alarming clampdown on any form of organised protest, whether teachers demanding better wages, women’s rights activists campaigning against inequality, or students protesting for the right to freedom of expression. A number of students from Tehran’s Amir Kabir University were arrested in May and June 2007.
"A government social security campaign took place during the summer months.
"Thousands of police warnings were issued and a number of people arrested and charged. Police treatment of offenders was particularly heavy handed. Many saw this as an infringement of individual rights.
"Gender inequality and discrimination are widespread, and are perpetuated by Iran’s constitutional structures.
"Despite being a member of the International Labour Organisation and a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and ICCPR, both of which protect the right to form and join trades unions, Iran’s fledgling labour rights movement has suffered similar restrictions on freedom of expression.
"Independent unions and strike action are not permitted. Between March and May 2007 large numbers of teachers across Iran held nationwide strikes and peaceful demonstrations to support a new pay system which would improve employment security and wages (over half of all teachers live below the poverty line). Hundreds were arrested in Tehran, Ardebil, Hamedan and Kermanshah for participating in these protests.
"Cruel and inhuman criminal punishments such as flogging, stoning and amputation remain on the statute books. Amputation sentences have been carried out on at least seven people found guilty of robbery in Mashhad, Zahedan and Kermanshah."
