Iran: UN expert hails release of rights defender Nasrin Sotoudeh, and urges government to free remaining ones

GENEVA (23 September 2013) – The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, has welcomed the recent release of a number of prisoners of conscience, and renewed his call for the release of hundreds of other prisoners detained “solely for exercising their rights to freedoms of expression, association and assembly.”

“This recent step taken by the Iranian Government to release more than a dozen prisoners of conscience, including Nasrin Sotoudeh, a prominent human rights activist and lawyer, is a step in the right direction in advancing Iran’s international human rights obligations,” Mr. Shaheed said. Among those released last week were Ms. Mahboubeh Karami, human rights activist and member of the One Million Signatures Campaign, and Ms. Jila Karamzadeh-Makvandi, supporter of the Mourning Mothers of Laleh Park.

“I urge the Government to take further steps to ensure the unconditional release of all political prisoners and to advance the campaign pledges made by President Hassan Rouhani to alleviate the sources of censorship in the country,” the human rights expert said.

Stressing the pivotal role of lawyers and human rights defenders in society, the Special Rapporteur called on the Iranian authorities to release other detained lawyers and human rights activists. These include Mr. Abdolfattah Soltani and Mr. Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, who are currently serving sentences for charges that are believed to be related to their work as human rights defenders.

“It is vital for the country's future that the voices of all its citizens are permitted to play their rightful part in crafting an inclusive future for Iran in the coming years,” Mr. Shaheed said.

He renewed his call on the Government to engage meaningfully and constructively with the UN human rights system to improve the country’s human rights record. He expressed hope that there will be opportunities for dialogue with the administration of President Rouhani and reiterated his continued interest in visiting Iran.

Since his appointment in August 2011, Mr. Shaheed has made several official requests to the Government of Iran to visit the country.

ENDS

Ahmed Shaheed (the Maldives) is a Visiting Professor at Essex University, UK; a member of the Maldivian presidential Commission Investigating Corruption; and a former foreign policy advisor to the President of the Maldives. Mr Shaheed was Foreign Minister of the Maldives from 2005 to 2007 and from 2008 to 2010. He led the country’s efforts to sign and ratify all nine international human rights Conventions and to implement them in law and practice. He was appointed as the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran in June 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council. As Special Rapporteur, he is independent from any government or organization and serves in his individual capacity.

OHCHR Country Page – Iran: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/AsiaRegion/Pages/IRIndex.aspx

Check the Special Rapporteur’s reports: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?m=88

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CCPR.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact Naveed Ahmed (+41 22 928 9477 / nahmed@ohchr.org) or write to sr-iran@ohchr.org

For media inquiries related to other UN independent experts:
Xabier Celaya, UN Human Rights – Media Unit (+ 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)

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