Human Rights and Democracy Report - Islamic Republic of Iran

Iran's human rights record remained cause for great concern in 2014. Although President Rouhani pledged his support for greater social equality and justice for all Iranians there was little change in practice, and much more needs to be done to ensure all Iranians enjoy the rights and freedoms to which they are entitled. There was a marked increase in the number of executions over the past year, and Iran continued to have the highest rate of executions per capita in the world, according to UN figures, and the second highest number of journalists in prison in the world. Dissent was not widely tolerated, and the majority of newspapers, TV and radio in Iran remained government controlled. Access to the internet and social media was heavily restricted. Cyber activists, internet experts, bloggers and activists are routinely arrested and detained. Women continued to suffer discrimination, and there was continued persecution of religious and ethnic minorities.

The UK remained at the forefront of international efforts to encourage the Iranian government to take steps to improve its human rights record. We continued to raise individual cases with the Iranian government, and address trends such as the increase in executions and the persecution of religious minorities. In October, the UK contributed to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Iran's human rights record at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva. We raised concerns about the increased use of the death penalty, and restrictions on freedom of religion or belief; freedom of expression; due process, such as access to a lawyer; and women's rights. The UK also tabled two recommendations which would make an important contribution to improving Iran's approach to human rights: an immediate moratorium on the execution of juveniles and those who have committed crimes not recognised as "most serious"; and allowing detainees access to a lawyer at all stages of pre-trial detention. Iran is expected to respond to these recommendations before the next HRC in March 2015.

On 18 December, for the 11th consecutive year, a resolution was passed at the UN in support of human rights in Iran. The resolution was passed with 83 countries voting in support and 35 countries voting against. The UK co-sponsored this resolution, and lobbied extensively for support. The UK also lobbied successfully for the renewal of the mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Dr Ahmed Shaheed, at the HRC in March.

Freedom of Expression and Assembly

President Rouhani's comments in March in favour of "freedom of the press, with responsibility", where he stated that "if we break the pens and shut the mouths, public trust will be deeply harmed.... Shutting down a newspaper should be a last resort, not the first", were welcome. However, systemic restrictions on freedom of expression by various organs of the Iranian state continued. A number of newspapers were shut down in 2014, including Aseman and Bahar newspapers, which were closed for "propaganda against the regime" and similar related charges. Despite several government officials making statements in support of greater press freedom, Iran continued to imprison journalists at an alarming rate, and many others continued to face alleged harassment and surveillance.

Prison conditions remained a serious concern in 2014. On 17 April, it was widely reported in the Iranian media that a number of political prisoners in Ward 350 of Evin Prison were severely beaten by prison guards, stripped naked, threatened to be raped, and taken to solitary confinement. Iranian officials claimed that only a few prisoners were slightly injured during a routine search of the ward. However, families of the prisoners involved claimed that four prisoners had to be sent to hospital outside of the prison compound for treatment after the attack. Several more had to be treated in the prison infirmary, and at least 32 were taken to solitary confinement.

The issue of freedom of expression and assembly was brought to the forefront of international attention in May, when a group of young Iranians were arrested after uploading a video to YouTube of them dancing on Tehran's rooftops to Pharrell Williams' song "Happy". The individuals were arrested because the men and women were dancing together, and the women had uncovered hair. Their arrests caused an international outcry. The "Happy Dancers", as they became known, were released from prison a day after their arrest, but on 19 September they were handed suspended sentences of one year in prison and 91 lashes each.

There have, however, been signs of increased internal discourse within Iran on these issues over2014, particularly on the question of blocking social media. In April, it was announced that the social media applications WhatsApp, Viber and Tango would be filtered in Iran. However, following this, there was an ongoing debate between government ministries over whether these applications should be filtered. In October, Information and Communications Minister Mahmoud Vaezi asked that people "use the networks wisely so that people can continue to use them in future".

Human Rights Defenders

Hundreds of human rights defenders and political prisoners continued to be detained in Iran, and there were reports of further arrests in 2014. Many individuals were detained on charges such as "membership in organisations that aim to disrupt national security", or "propaganda against the system".

In March, student human rights activist Maryam Shafipour was sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of "spreading propaganda" and "gathering and colluding" against the ruling system. She was kept in solitary confinement for two months without access to a lawyer before being charged. After an appeal in May, she was sentenced to four years in prison.

While in prison, Ms Shafipour reportedly developed a range of medical problems, but was denied treatment outside the prison compound, despite repeated requests.

Access to Justice and the Rule of Law

There was little or no improvement in access to justice or the rule of law in Iran during 2014. While the Iranian government noted that the constitution safeguards the independence and impartiality of the judiciary, there were allegations and reports of influence over judges. According to the UN Special Rapporteur, the Special Assistant to the President for Ethnic and Religious Minority Affairs said in February that "we have witnessed the security apparatus, from the position of strength, putting the judge under pressure to steer the trial in the direction they want".

The UN reported that many lawyers believed that judges made their decisions almost exclusively on the basis of reports submitted by the arresting and investigating officials, and rarely considered evidence offered by the defence. One high-profile example of this in 2014 was the trial of 26-year-old Iranian woman, Reyhaneh Jabbari, who was found guilty of the murder of a former intelligence officer who was trying to sexually assault her. According to Amnesty International, Ms Jabbari's claims that there was a second man present at the time of the assault and murder were not fully investigated. Ms Jabbari was executed on 25 October, to much public outcry.

Death Penalty

The use of the death penalty in Iran continued to be of significant concern. There were at least 450 confirmed executions in Iran in 2014. The true figure was probably far higher, but reports of secret executions and a lack of clarity of official figures made it difficult to give an accurate number.

The death penalty was used largely for drugs-related offences, which are not considered the "most serious crimes" – the latter being the only type of crimes for which the death penalty is permitted under Iran's obligations as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. There were also several cases of individuals being executed for crimes they committed as minors, in contravention of Iran's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Mohamad Javad Larijani, Head of the Iranian Human Rights Committee, during an interview with France 24 TV Station on 8 December, said that Iran was trying to change the laws on drug trafficking, in which case "the number of executions in Iran would fall by 80%". The UK would welcome such a change to the laws on executions for drugs-related offences.

The use of the death penalty also became a point of internal debate within Iran during 2014. On 5 February, a man who had been sentenced to death for drug trafficking survived his hanging. When it was discovered that he had survived, there was a debate around whether he should be subjected to a second hanging. Justice Minister Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi opposed a second hanging, and ordered his sentence to be commuted to life imprisonment. On 15 April, a man convicted of murder was pardoned by the victim's mother just seconds before the execution was due to take place. These examples, plus many more, struck a chord with the Iranian people and sparked a lively internal debate about the use of the death penalty.

Freedom of Religion or Belief

The Iranian constitution recognises only three religions other than Islam: Judaism, Christianity and Zoroastrianism. There were some suggestions throughout 2014 that freedom of religion or belief might be improving. Former President and Expediency Council Chair Ali Akbar Hashemi Rasfanjani told a meeting of Iranian Sunni Muslim leaders that their rights were secure in Iran. However, there was little, if any, actual change in the challenges faced by religious minorities in Iran.

The Baha'i community continued to be persecuted systematically in 2014. In late April, a prominent Baha'i cemetery in Shiraz was desecrated. Due to international outcry, the desecration was halted in May, but resumed again in August. 14 May marked the six-year anniversary of the imprisonment of the seven leaders of the Baha'i faith, who are serving 20 years each in prison on charges of espionage, "propaganda against the regime", "collusion and collaboration for the purpose of endangering the national security", and "spreading corruption on earth". The systematic persecution of the Baha'is appears to be rooted in the unrecognised status of the faith.

Although the Christian faith is recognised by the Iranian constitution, Christians, and especially Christian converts, continued to face harassment. Christians involved in the non-denominational house church movement were routinely arrested throughout 2014. In October, three Christian pastors, including Behnam Irani, were sentenced to an additional six years each in prison, on top of their original sentences, on charges of "action against national security", and "creating a network to overthrow the system". During an attack on a house church on Christmas Day, nine Christians were arrested, including the two priests who were conducting the church service.

Women's Rights

According to the UN Special Rapporteur's October report, Iranian women continued to constitute just 16% of the Iranian workforce. There was also a decrease in the percentage of female students entering university following the 2012 introduction of gender-rationing policies.

The wearing of the hijab was a notable issue in Iranian internal politics in 2014. In May, a Facebook page titled "My Stealthy Freedom" was set up by a prominent human rights activist, on which women in Iran posted photos of themselves in public places with uncovered hair. The page was hugely popular, with thousands of women posting photos, and became a symbol of female dissent against enforced wearing of the hijab. A number of months later, in October, there was a spate of acid attacks against women for not adhering to "proper Islamic dress". Whilst it was originally claimed on social media that the government was behind the attacks, it is now largely believed that there was a single attacker, working to his own agenda. A protest in Isfahan against the acid attacks reportedly resulted in riot police using tear gas and batons against the protestors.

Minority Rights

Discrimination and the arbitrary arrest of ethnic minorities continued throughout 2014. In January, there were reports that two activists from the Arab minority were executed in secret, after reportedly being denied access to lawyers, and forced into confessing to "enmity against God", and "corruption on earth", as well as acts against national security.

LGB&T Rights

It is against Iranian law for people of the same sex to touch and kiss, and for people to cross-dress. Transsexuality has been legal in Iran since a fatwa was issued in 1987 by the late Ayatollah Khomeini. However, there is still a great deal of social stigma attached to transsexual people who can only obtain legal documentation in their preferred gender if they have undergone gender reassignment surgery. This makes it difficult for those who do not want to undergo surgery to find employment, and access medical services and education.

Other Issues

Trade Unions

Article 26 of the Iranian constitution permits the establishment of political and craft associations (types of trade unions specifically mentioned in the Iranian constitution), provided that there are no violations of the principles of national unity, Islamic standards and the "foundations" of the Islamic Republic. However, several labour activists in Iran have been sentenced to spend years in prison for "acting against national security by establishing and/or being a member of groups opposed to the system". The Supreme Leader recommended there be "mutual respect" between employers and workers. But efforts to try and organise labour in Iran proved to be dangerous in practice.

On 1 May, International Labour Day, more than 25 workers were reportedly attacked and taken into custody following a peaceful gathering in front of the Labour Ministry in Tehran. It was reported that a number of those workers were severely beaten by security forces. This occurred on the same day that President Rouhani made a speech in which he stated that "Workers, through their free associations, should be able to voice their concerns to Labour Ministry officials in a more comfortable and clear manner".