IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS

The White Wednesdays movement opposes compulsory hijab and promotes freedom of choice for Iranian women.

https://www.mystealthyfreedom.org/topics/news/white-wednesdays/

Yasaman Aryani took off her headscarf & was sentenced to 16 years in prison

By Madeline Hislop
Women's Agenda
October 22, 2019

https://womensagenda.com.au/latest/yasaman-aryani-took-off-her-headscarf-was-sentenced-to-16-years-in-prison/

Iran: Release women's rights defenders detained for peacefully protesting against forced veiling

Amnesty International
April 18, 2019

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2019/04/iran-release-womens-rights-defenders-detained-for-peacefully-protesting-against-forced-veiling/

Combined 55-year jail time for defying Iran's hijab law

Share America
August 14, 2019

https://share.america.gov/combined-55-year-jail-time-for-defying-irans-hijab-law/

Iran: Dozens of women ill-treated and at risk of long jail terms for peacefully protesting compulsory veiling

Amnesty International
February 26, 2018

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/02/iran-dozens-of-women-ill-treated-and-at-risk-of-long-jail-terms-for-peacefully-protesting-compulsory-veiling/

Iranian woman 'sentenced to 20 years in prison' for removing headscarf in protest

Demonstrator says she was jailed for 'opposing the compulsory hijab' and 'waving a white flag of peace in the street'

By Samuel Osborne
The Independent
July 10, 2018

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-woman-hijab-protest-arrest-jailed-prison-shapark-shajarizadeh-headscarf-white-wednesdays-a8439816.html?amp

Groundbreaking report demonstrates hijab laws amount to widespread and systematic violation of women’s rights in Iran

Justice For Iran
March 7, 2014

https://justice4iran.org/4861/

July 19, 2022

Gov't Agencies 'Can't Cope' With Huge Number Of Child Laborers, Says Official

Radio Farda
April 26, 2018

https://en.radiofarda.com/amp/iran-child-labor-homeless-abuse/29193727.html

Poverty At The Root Of Iran's Child Labor Problem

Radio Farda
November 26, 2018

https://en.radiofarda.com/a/poverty-at-the-root-of-iran-s-child-labor-problem/29621609.html

Thousands Of Children Forced To Work, Beg In The Streets In Iran

Radio Farda
September 2, 2019

https://en.radiofarda.com/amp/thousands-of-children-forced-to-work-beg-in-the-streets-in-iran/30142546.html

Iranian street children face torture and abuse

Deutsche Welle
July 19, 2019

https://amp.dw.com/en/iranian-street-children-face-torture-and-abuse/av-49647920

Ahwazi Children in Iran: Starving, Abused, and Forced To Work

By Rahim Hamid and Yasser Assadi
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Fikra Forum
March 13, 2020

https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/ahwazi-children-iran-starving-abused-and-forced-work

The plight of Iran's millions of child laborers

Iran News Wire
November 20, 2020

https://irannewswire.org/the-plight-of-irans-millions-of-child-laborers/?amp

Islamic Republic of Iran: Promoting Violence Against Children

Iran Human Rights Review
The Foreign Policy Center
January 2014

https://www.ihrr.org/ihrr_article/violence-en_islamic-republic-of-iran-promoting-violence-against-children/

A generation of street kids hustling in Iran

Los Angeles Times
By Kim Murphy
April 22, 2007

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-apr-22-fg-streetkids22-story.html

Iran: Child Laborers Exposed to Irreparable Lifelong Injuries

U.S. Foundation for Liberty
June 13, 2022

https://www.usfliberty.org/iran-child-laborers-exposed-to-irreparable-lifelong-injuries/

World Children's Day Rings Hollow for Children in Iran Who Enjoy Zero Rights

Iran Human Rights Monitor
November 19, 2020

https://iran-hrm.com/2020/11/19/world-childrens-day-rings-hollow-for-children-in-iran/?amp

Covid: Thousands of children left without parents in Iran

More than 51,000 children in Iran have lost a parent to the Covid-19 pandemic, Iranian welfare authorities say.

By Rana Rahimpour
BBC Persian
October 18, 2021

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58886923.amp

Coronavirus pandemic exacerbates Iran's child abuse problem

By Khosro Kalbasi
Atlantic Council
IranSource
August 13, 2020

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/iransource/coronavirus-pandemic-exacerbates-irans-child-abuse-problem/

Fact Check: Do Afghan Children Enjoy Free Education in Iran?

Iran Wire
December 16, 2020

https://iranwire.com/en/fact-checking/68404

July 18, 2022

Iranian Child Brides At Record Numbers

Iran International
November 23, 2021

https://www.iranintl.com/en/20211123366358

The Life of an Iranian Child Bride: An Animation by Marjan Farsad

Center for Human Rights in Iran
August 30, 2021

https://iranhumanrights.org/2021/08/the-life-of-an-iranian-child-bride-an-animation-by-marjan-farsad/

Iran's Vice President Ansieh Khazali supports child marriage

By Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
Blitz
Pressenza
November 14, 2021

https://www.pressenza.com/2021/09/irans-vice-president-ansieh-khazali-supports-child-marriage/

A Tale of Two Child Marriages

Iran Wire
May 9, 2022

https://iranwire.com/en/society/103764-a-tale-of-two-child-marriages

Child marriage in Iran forces girls into a life of oppression

Deutsche Welle
November 9, 2017

https://amp.dw.com/en/child-marriage-in-iran-forces-girls-into-a-life-of-oppression/a-40450099

Child brides in Iran: tradition, poverty and resisting change

By Taraneh Stone
BBC Monitoring
April 26, 2019

https://monitoring.bbc.co.uk/product/c200rxfl

Iran: Women - Early and forced marriage

Country Policy and Information Note
Home Office
May 2022

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1072853/IRN_CPIN_Women_-_Early_and_forced_marriage.pdf

Early and Forced Marriages in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Justice For Iran
December 2013

https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/Women/WRGS/ForcedMarriage/NGO/JusticeForIran.pdf

Stolen Lives, Empty Classroom: An Overview on Girl Marriage

Justice For Iran
October 10, 2013

https://justice4iran.org/6539/

Iran lawmakers pass bill allowing men to marry adopted daughters

Human rights activists say approved bill, making girls vulnerable to the ruling from age 13, 'legalises paedophilia'

By Saeed Kamali Dehghan
The Guardian
September 26, 2013

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/26/iran-lawmakers-men-wed-adopted-daughters?CMP=twt_gu

July 16, 2022

Women Share Stories Of Sexual Abuse In Iranian Prisons

By Golnaz Esfandiari
Radio Free Europe
Radio Liberty
May 31, 2021

https://www.rferl.org/a/women-sexual-abuse-iran-prisons/31282808.html

Women reveal suffering torture, rape in Iran's prisons in new Al Arabiya documentary

By Tamara Abueish
Al Arabiya
August 15, 2020

https://english.alarabiya.net/amp/features/2020/08/15/Women-reveal-suffering-torture-rape-in-Iran-s-prisons-in-new-Al-Arabiya-documentary

Rape Before Execution: The Secrets Persist

By Firozeh Ramezanzadeh
Iran Wire
October 5, 2014

https://iranwire.com/en/society/60172/

Sexual torture of women political prisoners in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Iran Human Rights Review
The Foreign Policy Center
January 2014

https://www.ihrr.org/ihrr_article/violence-en_sexual-torture-of-women-political-prisoners-in-the-islamic-republic-of-iran/

Stop further denials of rape of virgin girls prior to execution

Justice For Iran
September 29, 2013

https://justice4iran.org/5431/#

Raped out of Paradise: Women in Prisons of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Justice For Iran
June 2013

https://justice4iran.org/6548/

Crime & Impunity

Sexual Torture of Women in Islamic Republic Prisons

Justice For Iran
December 10, 2012

https://justice4iran.org/6057/

Iranians Say Prison Rape Is Not New

By Robert Mackey
The New York Times
August 28, 2009

https://archive.nytimes.com/thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/28/iranians-say-prison-rape-not-new/

New Prison-Rape Allegations In Iran Bring Practice To Light

By Golnaz Esfandiari
Radio Free Europe
Radio Liberty
August 26, 2009

https://www.rferl.org/amp/New_PrisonRape_Allegations_In_Iran_Bring_Practice_To_Light/1808311.html

'I wed Iranian girls before execution'

By Sabina Amidi
Jerusalem Post
July 19, 2009

https://m.jpost.com/iranian-threat/news/i-wed-iranian-girls-before-execution/amp

July 15, 2022

Iran: Blood-soaked secrets: Why Iran's 1988 prison massacres are ongoing crimes against humanity

Amnesty International
December 4, 2018

https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde13/9421/2018/en/

Iran committing crimes against humanity by concealing fate of thousands of slaughtered political dissidents

Amnesty International
December 4, 2018

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2018/12/iran-committing-crimes-against-humanity-by-concealing-fate-of-thousands-of-slaughtered-political-dissidents/?utm_source=Eye+on+Iran%3A+U.S.+Sends+Aircraft+Carrier+To+Persian+Gulf+In+Show+Of+Force+Agains&utm_campaign=eye-on-iran&utm_medium=email

Iran's 1988 Mass Executions

Evidence & Legal Analysis of "Crimes Against Humanity"

Human Rights Watch
June 8, 2022

https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/06/08/irans-1988-mass-executions

Khomein's fatwa led to mass execution of political prisoners

Iran Tribunal

https://irantribunal.com/mass-executions/khomeins-fatwa-fatwa-led-to-mass-execution-of-political-prisoners/

List of executions in 1980s

Iran Tribunal

https://irantribunal.com/mass-executions/list-of-executions/

Audio Transcript Of Iran Officials' Remarks About 1988 Massacre

Partial Translation of the remarks by Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri in a meeting with the members of the "death commission" in Tehran regarding the massacre of political prisoners in Iran

Justice for Victims of 1988 Massacre in Iran

September 29, 2016

https://iran1988.org/audio-transcript-iran-officials-remarks-1988-massacre/

Mass murderers are running Iran's judiciary

Justice for Victims of 1988 Massacre in Iran
September 15, 2019

https://iran1988.org/mass-murderers-are-running-iran-judiciary/

Iran: Ebrahim Raisi must be investigated for crimes against humanity

Amnesty International
June 19, 2021

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/06/iran-ebrahim-raisi-must-be-investigated-for-crimes-against-humanity/

UN urged to open query into Iran's 1988 killings and Raisi role

By Stephanie Nebehay
Reuters

January 27, 2022

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/un-urged-open-query-into-irans-1988-killings-raisi-role-2022-01-27/

EXCLUSIVE U.N. expert backs probe into Iran's 1988 killings, Raisi's role

By Stephanie Nebehay
Reuters

June 29, 2021

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/exclusive-un-expert-backs-probe-into-irans-1988-killings-raisis-role-2021-06-29/

Iranian President Raisi: The Hanging Judge

By Thomas Parker
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
August 26, 2021

https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/iranian-president-raisi-hanging-judge

Swedish court convicts Iranian ex-official over 1988 executions

By David Gritten
BBC News
July 14, 2022

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62162676.amp

Iran: Conviction of former Iranian official over involvement in 1988 prison massacres landmark step towards justice

Amnesty International
July 14, 2022

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/07/iran-conviction-of-former-iranian-official-over-involvement-in-1988-prison-massacres-landmark-step-towards-justice/

July 10, 2022

Ukraine rejects Iran's final report on downing of flight PS752

Ukraine has rejected the Civil Aviation Organisation of Iran's final report on the downing of a Ukrainian jet as a "cynical attempt" to conceal the truth.

BBC News
March 17, 2021

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56428698.amp

Iran: pointed pellets, tear gas and rubber bullets fired at plane protesters

Amnesty International
January 15, 2020

https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/iran-pointed-pellets-tear-gas-and-rubber-bullets-fired-plane-protesters

Iran: Ukraine Airline Victims' Families Harassed, Abused

A Torture Case, No Transparency in Investigation of 2020 Downed Airliner

Human Rights Watch
May 27, 2021

https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/05/27/iran-ukraine-airline-victims-families-harassed-abused

VOA Exclusive: Ukraine Accuses Iran of Premeditated Terrorist Act in 2020 Plane Shootdown

By Siamak Dehghanpour, Myroslava Gongadze and Michael Lipin
VOA News
January 08, 2022

https://www.voanews.com/amp/voa-exclusive-ukraine-accuses-iran-of-premediated-terrorist-act-in-2020-plane-shootdown/6388049.html

Association of Families of Flight PS752 Victims

About Us

We are the families of victims of Flight PS752. Our lives – what used to be normal lives like other normal people – forever changed in the early morning of 8 January 2020, when Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down just 3 minutes after take-off from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport by at least two missiles of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

We are a group of families of victims of Flight PS752 with diverse national, political, and religious backgrounds. We have found each other, established this non-profit organization, and created this website.

The missions of our Association are to unite the grieving families, keep the memories of the passengers alive, and most importantly seek justice. We are determined to uncover the truth and find out why a commercial flight was shot down by IRGC’s missiles. We will staunchly seek justice until the culprits, perpetrators and commanders of this atrocious crime are identified and brought to justice before an impartial and independent court.

https://www.ps752justice.com

Families of victims of Iran plane crash struggle with loss 1 year later

By Liam Casey and Hina Alam
The Canadian Press
Global News
January 4, 2021

https://globalnews.ca/news/7555417/iran-plane-crash-1-year/amp/

Canadian court rules Iran's 2020 downing of Ukrainian flight 'act of terrorism'

A Canadian court on Thursday ruled that the shooting down of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was deliberate and an "act of terrorism," paving the way for possible compensation for victims' families.

France 24
May 21, 2021

https://amp.france24.com/en/middle-east/20210521-canadian-court-rules-iran-s-2020-downing-of-ukrainian-flight-act-of-terrorism

Iran intentionally shot down Flight PS752 in 'an act of terrorism,' Ontario court rules

Canada will soon enter into negotiations with Iran on reparations for the victims' families

By Ashley Burke and Nahayat Tizhoosh
CBC News
May 20, 2021

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/flightps752-private-lawsuit-against-iran-alleging-terrorist-activity-1.6034581

Ontario court awards $107M to families of Flight PS752 victims

Plantiff's lawyer plans to seize Iranian assets in Canada and abroad

By Ashley Burke
CBC News
Jan 03, 2022

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/flight-ps751-court-decision-1.6302809

July 05, 2022

"Bloody November" Iranian protests

Study of the data of 3000+ murdered and 19000+ detained. Includes the names of 850+ murdered.

MEHR center
February 21, 2021

https://mehr.center/cause/comprehensive-report-of-2019-bloody-november-iranian-protests/

New Report Claims 3,000 Killed In Iran During 'Bloody November' In 2019

Iran International
February 27, 2021

https://old.iranintl.com/en/iran/new-report-claims-3000-killed-iran-during-bloody-november-2019

Special Report: Iran's leader ordered crackdown on unrest - 'Do whatever it takes to end it'

Reuters
December 23, 2019

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN1YR0QR

Iran: Details released of 304 deaths during protests six months after security forces' killing spree

Amnesty International
May 20, 2020

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/05/iran-details-released-of-304-deaths-during-protests-six-months-after-security-forces-killing-spree/

Iran: Details of 324 deaths in crackdown on November 2019 protests

Amnesty International
November 16, 2021

https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde13/2308/2020/en/

U.S. says Iran may have killed more than 1,000 in recent protests

By Humeyra Pamuk
Reuters
December 5, 2019

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-protests-usa/u-s-says-iran-may-have-killed-more-than-1000-in-recent-protests-idUSKBN1Y926W?fbclid=IwAR3tN3o-rkMhwBiwSj9HxEXKZoBLCUgCMvaZFloBeiRFeLIvERulcMh2HcA

Special Representative for Iran and Senior Advisor to the Secretary Brian Hook

Special Briefing

U.S. Department of State
December 5, 2019

https://2017-2021.state.gov/special-representative-for-iran-and-senior-advisor-to-the-secretary-brian-hook-3/index.html

Iran: Experts alarmed at alleged mistreatment of detained protesters

United Nations
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
December 20, 2019

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2019/12/iran-experts-alarmed-alleged-mistreatment-detained-protesters?LangID=E&NewsID=25449

Iran: Trampling Humanity – Mass arrests, disappearances and torture since Iran's 2019 November protests

Amnesty International
September 2, 2020

https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde13/2891/2020/en/

One Year After Iran's Deadly Crackdown, Victims' Families Face Harassment

By Fereshteh Ghazi and Golnaz Esfandiari
Radio Free Europe
Radio Liberty
November 20, 2020

https://www.rferl.org/amp/one-year-after-iran-s-deadly-crackdown-victims-families-face-harassment/30960944.html

Relatives of Victims of State Violence are Being Persecuted in Iran

Center for Human Rights in Iran
March 31, 2022

https://iranhumanrights.org/2022/03/relatives-of-victims-of-state-violence-are-being-persecuted-in-iran/

European Parliament resolution of 19 December 2019 on the violent crackdown on the recent protests in Iran

The European Parliament
Texts adopted
December 19, 2019

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2019-0112_EN.html

Aban Tribunal

International people’s tribunal on Iran’s atrocities of November 2019

https://abantribunal.com

Allegations Of Mass Killings Of Protesters By The Iranian Government Under Review

By Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab
Forbes
November 11, 2021

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2021/11/11/allegations-of-mass-killings-of-protesters-by-the-iranian-government-under-review/amp/

Iran: Authorities violating absolute prohibition of torture through harassment of witnesses involved in Iran Atrocities Tribunal

Frontline Defenders
April 7, 2022

https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/statement-report/iran-authorities-violating-absolute-prohibition-torture-through-harassment

Shoot to Kill; Preliminary Findings of Justice for Iran's Investigation into the November 2019 Protests

Justice For Iran
February 28, 2020

https://justice4iran.org/15229/

Supreme Leader's approved policy prevents justice for families of victims of Iran's November protests

Justice For Iran
May 16, 2020

https://justice4iran.org/15076/

Mapping Iran's Bloody November Atrocities: Sirjan

Justice For Iran
November 13, 2020

https://justice4iran.org/15396/

July 03, 2022

More Than 500 Women Human Rights Defenders Unjustly Imprisoned In Iran

By Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab
Forbes
August 13, 2021

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2021/08/13/more-than-500-women-human-rights-defenders-unjustly-imprisoned-in-iran/amp/

Iran is the world's biggest jailer of women journalists

Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
August 26, 2019

https://rsf.org/en/news/iran-worlds-biggest-jailer-women-journalists

Extract

"Already one of the world’s five biggest jailers of journalists, Iran is now holding more women in connection with their journalistic activities than any other country in the world,"
"We call on Javaid Rehman, the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, to intervene with the utmost urgency to obtain their release and to address the disastrous press freedom situation in this country."

Reza Moini
Head of RSF’s Iran/Afghanistan Desk

Profiles: Iran's Jailed Human Rights Activists

By Caitlin Crahan
The Iran Primer
December 1, 2020

https://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2020/dec/01/profiles-iran’s-jailed-human-rights-activists

Profiles: Iran's Jailed Human Rights Lawyers

By Casey Donahue
The Iran Primer
December 14, 2020

https://iranprimer.usip.org/index.php/blog/2020/jul/15/profiles-iran’s-jailed-human-rights-lawyers

Report: Human Rights Defenders in Iran 2021

Iran Human Rights
December 16, 2021

https://iranhr.net/en/reports/26/

https://iranhr.net/media/files/HRD-English-2021_K2YoPzS.pdf

Report: Human Rights Defenders in Iran 2019-2020

Iran Human Rights
November 12, 2020

https://iranhr.net/en/reports/23/

https://iranhr.net/media/files/HRD_Report_Iran_Human_Rights_Eng.pdf

Report: Human Rights Defenders in Iran 2018

Iran Human Rights
February 23, 2019

https://iranhr.net/en/reports/20/

https://iranhr.net/media/files/HRD_Report_2018_EN.pdf

Profiles of Iranian Repression

Architects of Human Rights Abuse in the Islamic Republic

By Tzvi Kahn, Research Fellow, Dr. Ahmed Shaheed, UN Special Rapporteur (Foreword), Rose Parris Richter, City University of New York (Foreword) and Prof. Irwin Cotler, Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (Foreword)
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies
October 29, 2018

https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2018/10/29/profiles-of-iranian-repression/

Faces of Crime

Justice for Iran

https://facesofcrime.org/

May 26, 2022

United Nations 2021

Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly
UN. General Assembly December 2021

https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3954786?ln=en

Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran

By Javaid Rehman

United Nations July 2021

https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/3936725?ln=en

U.S. Department of State 2021

2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Iran

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor

https://www.state.gov/reports/2021-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/iran

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z7B4-VvCrU9S9V3SFWQTQ_-p0xueX2ZA/view?usp=sharing

European Union 2021

EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World
2021 Country Updates

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/2021-human-rights-and-democracy-world-country-reports_en

Extract

Iran

1. Overview of the human rights and democracy situation: The situation of human rights in Iran remained a matter of concern in 2021. Furthermore, the COVID-19 crisis exacerbated the vulnerability of the least protected persons in Iranian society, which was partially mitigated in the second half of the year thanks to a significant acceleration in the distribution of vaccines. Iran carried out executions at an extremely high rate. A major source of concern continued to be the use of death penalty also for juvenile offenders, protestors and dissidents. Restrictions to civil freedoms persisted, notably the lack of fair trial guarantees, violations of freedom of expression, religion or belief and of the human rights of women and girls. Abuse and torture in prison, the detention and conviction of dual nationals and the situation of human rights activists remained matters of serious concern. A water shortage in Khuzestan sparked a series of protests during the summer of 2021, marked by reports concerning the disproportionate use of force by Iranian security forces. A positive development in an overall difficult situation was Iran’s effort to continue hosting one of the largest refugee populations in the world, including approximately 1 million registered Afghan refugees, and to provide them with access to basic services, in particular health care, including coronavirus disease vaccination, and education for children.

2. EU action - key focus areas: A new government took office in the second half of the year. The EU policy approach towards Iran remained unchanged and continued to be based on a balanced and comprehensive approach, critical in all areas of concern and cooperative when there is mutual interest, as outlined in the Council conclusions of February 2019. As part of its comprehensive policy approach, the EU followed the situation of human rights in Iran, including individual cases, very closely and continued to address all relevant issues using a mixture of public and private diplomacy, as well as bilateral and multilateral tools. The EU repeatedly called on Iran to pursue a consistent policy towards the abolition of capital punishment and strongly condemned through public statements the use of death penalty in particular for juvenile offenders, protestors and dissidents.

3. EU bilateral political engagement: Human rights continued to be an integral part of the EU’s policy vis-à-vis Iran. As a result, the EU continued to address as appropriate all issues of concern with respect to the human rights situation in Iran and insisted, both privately and publicly, that there must be accountability for abuses whenever they occur. The EU continued to urge the Iranian authorities to pursue a consistent policy towards the abolition of capital punishment. The EU also reiterated its concerns regarding the situation of political prisoners and that of EU-Iranian dual nationals arbitrarily detained in Iran, and urged the Iranian authorities to ensure that all prisoners are kept in safe conditions, in compliance with the applicable international law, and that they are granted medical assistance whenever needed. Furthermore, the EU continued to urge the Iranian authorities to guarantee the full range of fundamental rights to their citizens irrespective of religion, belief or any other status, including the right to assemble and to express grievances in a non-violent manner. Through this political engagement, the EU will continue to urge improvements in the human rights situation in Iran.

4. EU financial engagement: In implementing projects in the framework of the Iran Multiannual Indicative Programme for 2021-2027, the EU always takes into account its human rights commitments.

5. Multilateral context: The Government of Iran received 329 recommendations following Iran’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in November 2019, including from 26 EU Member States. At the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council on 24 February – 20 March 2020, Iran accepted 143 of the 329 recommendations it received in 2019. The EU continued to be a strong supporter of the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran and encouraged Iran to fully cooperate with the latter’s mandate. As in previous years, the EU supported the resolution on the human rights situation in Iran tabled by Canada during the UN General Assembly in New York, as a resolution that is fact-based and free of unverified allegations.