Insufficient protections for civil and political rights have resulted in the imprisonment of over 895 “prisoners of conscience” and “political prisoners” in Iran, writes Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. in an article ‘supporting prisoners in Iran.’
“Over half of these Iranians were sentenced for simple and protected acts such as expressing an opinion, associating with an organization that promotes cultural rights, being active on a school campus, showing up to a rally or protest, or believing in an unrecognized religion.”
Mr. Shaheed’s recent report to the UN Human Rights Council reviews the legacy of vague and overly broad laws that lead to the arrest of Iran’s journalists, lawyers, students, and hundreds of activists that work to advance the rights of workers, women, and minorities in the country.
The report also discusses the abusive practices that result in the torture and denial of fair trail standards that contribute to the unjust convictions of hundreds of human rights defenders.
Shaheed writes: Some political prisoners have also been executed for their alleged crimes, including Gholamreza Khosravi Savadjani and Mah Afrid Amir Khosravi, and Ali Chebeishat and Sayed Khaled Mousavi, recently executed on Moharebeh (enmity against God) charges for their involvement in cultural rights and political groups.