To:
Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Ms. Nazhat Shameem Khan, Acting Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
Ms. Mae Sato, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Ms. Sara Hossain, Chair of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)
Subject: Urgent Warning Regarding
Systematic and Widespread Escalation of Human Rights Violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran Following Armed Conflict with Israel
Your Excellencies ,
In light of the ongoing military confrontation between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the State of Israel—resulting from a breach of international law and Article 2(4) of the UN Charter—the Iranian regime has significantly escalated its internal repression (under the cover of war.)
While Iranian authorities describe the conflict as a “strategic victory,” a large segment of the Iranian population perceives it as a source of insecurity, repression, severe restrictions, and gross violations of their fundamental rights.
In this context, the regime has enacted a new decree intensifying punishments for alleged espionage, thereby criminalizing virtually any form of social behavior or even emotional expression concerning the country’s current situation. The judiciary has openly stated, without any official declaration of a state of war or emergency, that it will handle the cases of recent detainees through an expedited process—disregarding minimum fair trial guarantees. This raises serious concerns regarding arbitrary and extrajudicial verdicts, jeopardizing judicial security and violating Iran’s obligations under international instruments, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The Jurists’ Council for a Democratic Iran, alongside a coalition of civil, human rights, and political figures and organizations undersigned below, expresses deep concern over the imminent risk of a human rights catastrophe in Iran. We urge the international community to take immediate and effective measures in response to the worsening human rights crisis. Failure to act will only enable the continuation and expansion of crimes against humanity—including extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions, and torture.
In this regard, we highlight the following particularly grave and alarming developments:
1. Escalation of Psychological Distress and Collective Suffering Among the Iranian Population
Citizens, especially in deprived and vulnerable regions, are experiencing chronic anxiety, fear, and psychological distress due to ongoing threats of military strikes, government propaganda, and prevailing emergency conditions. The regime’s suppression of any public discussion on the consequences of war and its refusal to provide psychosocial support have exacerbated a national mental health crisis.
2. Intensified Repression of Ethnic Groups, Migrants, and Religious Minorities
Ethnic minorities, particularly Kurdish and Baluchi citizens, and religious communities—including Baháʼí and Jewish communities —as well as migrants, especially Afghans, have been increasingly targeted with discriminatory and repressive measures. Under the pretext of “extraordinary conditions” and “national security threats,” security agencies have carried out enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, threats, illegal deportations, and imposed escalating restrictions on these groups.
3. Curtailment of Freedom of Expression and Suppression of Civil Protest
In recent weeks, numerous individuals—including civil society actors, human rights defenders, students, journalists, and social media users—have been arrested or summoned solely for peacefully expressing opinions or criticism of the regime’s military policies. The public sphere has effectively been transformed into a militarized security zone, and the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful activism have been flagrantly violated.
4. Surge in Executions and the Opaque Status of Political Prisoners
Since the start of the conflict, at least six prisoners have been executed on charges of “espionage and collaboration with Israel.” Our findings show that these trials lacked due process from beginning to end, including the denial of the right to defense and access to independent legal counsel.
5. Imminent Risk of Harsh Sentences, Including Death Penalty, for Recent Detainees
In the wake of a new wave of arrests, there is compelling evidence that the Iranian judiciary is preparing to impose severe penalties—including capital punishment—on some of the detainees. These proceedings are occurring in secret, without independent legal representation, and in violation of fundamental principles of fair trial, potentially resulting in irreversible, unjust sentences against individuals denied the right to defend themselves.
6. Gross Violations of the Right to Access Information
As part of its broader security agenda, the regime has imposed extensive censorship, blocked access to social media platforms, and severely restricted internet services. These actions not only prevent the public from accessing critical news and developments, but also obstruct independent monitoring of government abuses and reporting on human rights violations.
7. Growing Threat to Regional and Global Peace and Security
The current crisis, given Iran’s geopolitical significance and the cross-border effects of its policies, extends beyond national borders and poses a serious threat to regional and international stability. The militarization of society and escalation of internal repression may fuel further instability, cross-border conflict, forced displacement, sectarian violence, and extremism. Neglecting this trend will weaken international peace mechanisms and undermine global confidence in the effectiveness of international law, with severe humanitarian and security consequences.
In light of the above, we, the Council of Legal Experts for a Democratic Iran, along with the undersigned civil, human rights, and political organizations, hereby:
- Call upon the UN Secretary-General to exercise his authority under the UN Charter—particularly Article 99—to alert the international community and the Security Council to the grave and systematic human rights violations occurring in Iran. We urge the Secretary-General to demand an immediate halt to the regime’s repressive actions and convey the urgent concerns of Iranian civil society and human rights organizations to international negotiators (notably from the U.S., Germany, France, and the UK), calling on them to condition any engagement with the Iranian government on tangible human rights commitments.
- Request the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran to urgently publish a special report on the post-conflict human rights situation, with particular attention to extrajudicial executions, minority repression, and widespread detentions.
- Urge the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission to expand its investigation to cover the conditions of recent detainees, political prisoners, executions without fair trial, and acts of torture, and to independently assess reports of enforced disappearances.
In conclusion, the Jurists’ Council for a Democratic Iran and other signatories emphasize the urgent need for immediate, coordinated, and resolute action by UN institutions to prevent the continuation and escalation of gross and systematic human rights violations in Iran. Any delay or silence would not only contravene the foundational principles of the UN Charter and international legal obligations of states but would also endanger the lives of thousands of defenseless citizens.
Respectfully,
Jurists’ Council for a Democratic Iran
Names of the signatory organizations:
- The Jurists’ Council for a Democratic Iran
- Iran Human Rights
- Iran Human Rights Documentation Center
- Victims’ Families for Transitional Justice
- Justice for All Human Rights Organization
- Hengaw Organization for Human Rights
- HAWAR Help, Human Rights Organisation
- Kurdistan Human Rights Association-Geneva (KMMK-G)
- Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran (CFPPI)
- 10.People’s Foundation
- Baluch Activists Campaign
- 12.Balochistan Human Rights Group (BHRG)
- 13.Baloch Advocacy and studies centre (BASC)
- 14.Shiwar Human Rights Organization
- 15.Baluchistan People’s Party
- 16.International Committee Against Execution
- 17.Woman Right Organization
- 18.Khavaran Association
- 19.Women, Life, Freedom Association Europe
- 20.The Independent Alliance for Free Iran (IAFIran)
- 21.Network of Iranians for Liberty and Democracy (NIKA)
- 22.Nationwide Network of Woman, Life, Freedom
- 23.Rasank Group
- 24.Association of Republican Iranians of Southern Sweden
- 25.Iranian Australian Republicans (IAR)
- 26.Iranian Teachers’ Union Challenge Group
- 27.Iran Salvation Coalition Front (JANA)
- 28.Iran Liberation JANA Coalition
- 29.Iran Protest Malmo
- 30.Iran Protest Helsingborg
Names of the signatories:
Hossein Raeesi, Mehrangiz Kar, Saeed Dehghan, Moein Khazaeli, Omid Shams, Maryam Abedi, Sina Yousefi, Tanaz Kolahchian, Mehdi Jalali, Hirbod Dehghani Azar, Ghasem Baadi,Mohammad Olyaeeifar, Behnam Daryazadeh, Nayyereh Ansari, Shirin Maleki, Sara Ghoreyshi, Forough Sheikholeslami, Mohammad Moghimi, Naghi Mahmoudi, Behnam Chegini, Nazanin Afshin Jam, Shahin Modarres, Mina Khani, Noura Bayani, Shahram Sadidi, Jafar Jafari, Siamand Zandi, Hassan Etemadi, Zahra Takin, Mahyar Samavich, Iraj Baloch, Atefeh Daneshgar, Shahram Kholdi, Mostafa Saber, Maryam Kiani Anaraki, Hamed Farmand, Mitra Pouyandeh, Sahel Ehsani, Hassan Salehi, Behrouz Barji, Alireza Mansouri, Gabi Hosseini, Jamileh Davavi, Zhila Omrani, Parviz Yari, Azin Shahrokhi Fard, Hamid Taghvai, Ehsan Hakimi, Moein Arjomand, Arash Moshfeghi, Kazem Nikkhah, Arsalan Ahmadi, Sirwan Mansouri, Mona Kashef, Mojgan Khalili, Afsaneh Mousavi, Pooneh Beigmohammadi, Parastoo Fatemi, Flora Shafighi, Keyghobad Esmailpour, Fariba Baloch, Nadereh Boujar, Mahsan Ehsani, Tayebeh Rahali, Ziba Masoleh, Neda Sadeghian, Sima Nassi Zadeh, Mohsen Borhanzahi, Horoush Abidi, Behnam Shadrouvan, Abbas Haghnass, Azamat Azhdari, Nahid Hosseini, Shahnaz Morattab, Shilan Mirzaee.
