Human Rights Council 37: Human Rights situation in Iran
This UK statement was delivered at the 37th Session of the Human Rights Council during the Interactive Dialogue on Iran, held on 12 March 2018.
The Human Rights Council takes place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva
The United Kingdom would like to begin by paying tribute to Ms. Asma Jahangir, whose untimely passing casts a shadow over today’s dialogue. Ms. Jahangir was an inspiration to human rights defenders all around the world. Her courage and commitment to improving lives of women, children and religious minorities in her native Pakistan, and around the globe was exemplary and, will be sorely missed.
Ms. Jahangir was latterly the special rapporteur for human rights in Iran, and that is the reason we are here today.
The UK remains concerned by the human rights situation in Iran. We noted with alarm the number of executions reported in the Special Rapporteur report, in particular the five executions of juvenile offenders in 2017. We are encouraged by the amendments to drugs laws and urge Iran to go further and implement a complete moratorium on the use of the death penalty, including prohibiting the sentencing of children to death.
The UK remains deeply concerned about the persecution and discrimination of religious minorities and others in Iran, including the treatment of Baha’is, Christian converts, and Sufi Muslims. We also have grave concerns about the freedom of the press, noting in particular the harassment of BBC Persian staff and their families. We call on Iran to drop the criminal charges against BBC Persian staff and cease harassment of all journalists and their families with immediate effect.
Finally, we join with the Secretary General in expressing concern about the treatment of those detained during the recent protests. We urge the Iranian authorities to ensure that all detainees are afforded the rights they are entitled to. Finally, we call on Iran to eliminate all discrimination against women and girls.