Iran Should Allow UN Human Rights Expert into Country

International Community Should Pursue Human Rights with Same Commitment as the Nuclear Deal

October 29, 2015—The international community should urge Iranian authorities to allow the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, into the country, said the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran and Impact Iran in a new video released today.

“Under the nuclear deal Iran is allowing the UN into the country to conduct inspections of its enrichment facilities,” said Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran. “It should be expected to provide the same level of transparency to its human rights situation.”

The new video calls on UN member states and the Iranian government to pursue human rights with the same level of commitment it demonstrated in the nuclear deal, starting with a visit by the Special Rapporteur. Last year, the United Nations General Assembly unequivocally called on Iran to let the Special Rapporteur conduct a mission to Iran.

Ahmed Shaheed spoke to the UN General Assembly yesterday, October 28, about his ninth report on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic. While he welcomed the recent nuclear deal, he expressed concern over the skyrocketing rates of execution, the persecution of activists, journalists, and minorities, and the endemic discrimination against women in social and economic affairs. His report also outlined how Iran’s electoral laws, which will be at play in Iran’s Parliamentary elections next year, violate international standards on free and fair elections.

“If Tehran truly wants to rejoin the international community, it should allow a visit by the very person the international community has assigned to investigate the state of human rights in the country,” said Impact Iran’s director Mani Mostofi. “The time has come for Iranian authorities to allow the Rapporteur in.”