UN experts urge Iran to end escalating crackdown on ethnic minorities
UN experts on Thursday urged Iran to end an escalating crackdown on minorities in the country, particularly Kurds and Baluch communities. Independent experts pointed to arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, torture, ill-treatment and executions. “Iran's ethnic minorities must be able to live in safety and dignity, free from discrimination,” the experts said in a statement. They made the…
A group of UN experts has called on Iran to cease its escalating crackdown on ethnic minorities, specifically the Kurdish and Baluch communities. The experts highlighted instances of arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, torture, ill-treatment, and executions. Speaking on behalf of four Kurdish men and a Baluch man, the experts emphasized that these individuals face imminent risk of execution due to proceedings allegedly tainted by torture and forced confessions.
The experts pointed out that since the start of widespread protests in Iran late last year, thousands have been detained, with at least 24 Baluch and 22 Kurdish individuals executed this year, and many more at risk of execution. The intensity of the crackdown has reportedly risen following the onset of anti-government protests, initially sparked by rising living costs which quickly evolved into broader protests against the authorities.
The experts noted that the persecution of Kurdish and Baluch minorities extends beyond Iran's borders, involving campaigns of threats and surveillance against those living abroad. Reports indicate a significant increase in arbitrary arrests and politically motivated sentences, including against individuals from ethnic minorities, who are frequently arrested under vaguely defined national security charges.
Iranian authorities have accused the protests of being instigated by US and Israeli influence, a narrative that was further fueled by a joint attack on Iran by the US and Israel on February 28, leading to a wider Middle East conflict. This conflict has reportedly contributed to the rise in arrests and executions, according to the experts.
Iran maintains that its use of the death penalty is in line with its laws and essential for combating serious crimes and threats to national security. According to Amnesty International, Iran executed over 2,150 people last year, making it the second most lethal country after China, although precise figures for China remain undisclosed.
The UN experts, appointed by the Human Rights Council, operate independently and do not represent the UN.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
