Press briefing notes on Mexico and Iran

(1) Mexico

We are deeply concerned that almost two years after the commission of serious human rights violations in Tlatlaya in Mexico State, including the alleged summary execution of at least 12 people, the case remains mired in impunity and victims continue to be denied their rights to justice and the truth. According to the National Human Rights Commission of Mexico, 22 people were killed, of whom at least 12 may have been summarily executed, at a warehouse in Tlatlaya in June 2014. Seven military personnel were arrested in connection with the case, but in October 2015, a judge dropped charges against four of them and last week, a court freed the other three, deciding that there was insufficient evidence against them.

During his visit to Mexico in October last year, High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said the Tlatlaya case would be closely watched as a test of the authorities’ commitment to fighting impunity, after an amended Military Code placed the military under the jurisdiction of civilian courts for crimes committed against civilians.

We fully respect the independence of the judiciary and take note of the statement by the Attorney-General’s office that it would continue to provide supporting evidence to “prevent the crimes committed […] in Tlatlaya […] from remaining in impunity”. We call on the Mexican authorities to ensure a thorough, effective, impartial, independent and prompt investigation into this emblematic case. We also urge the prosecution and judicial authorities to comply with the highest human rights norms and standards in its investigations and the conduct of trials. Investigations must be extended to examine all those who may be responsible, including higher-level military officers who may hold command responsibility, as well as those who may have tampered with or ordered the commission of acts to tamper with the crime scene. Other allegations of human rights violations related to the Tlatlaya case, including arbitrary detention and torture of witnesses, should also be thoroughly investigated.

Given the importance of forensic evidence in this case, we appeal to the authorities to urgently implement the recommendation, made by the High Commissioner in October, to establish an adequately resourced national autonomous forensic institution. This would no doubt reinforce investigations in this and other cases. Our Office stands ready to advise the relevant authorities in Mexico as well as to support and assist the victims and their representatives.

(2) Iran

We are appalled by the sentencing of a prominent Iranian anti-death penalty campaigner, Nargis Mohammadi, to 16 years’ imprisonment in charges that stem from her courageous human rights work. Ms. Mohammadi is already in Evin Prison in Tehran, serving out a prison sentence for breaching the country’s sweeping national security laws. The human rights defender is believed to have serious medical conditions and has reportedly not been granted adequate access to the specialised medical care she needs.

The UN Human Rights Office and other human rights mechanisms have long urged the Iranian authorities to release Ms. Mohammadi, but to no avail. Her sentencing is illustrative of an increasingly low tolerance for human rights advocacy in Iran. We urge the Iranian authorities to ensure the immediate release of Ms. Mohammadi and all those detained for merely exercising their human rights.

ENDS

For more information and media requests, please contact Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 97 67 / rcolville@ohchr.org), Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / rshamdasani@ohchr.org) or Cécile Pouilly (+41 22 917 9310 / cpouilly@ohchr.org)

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