Iran: New government fails to address human rights

19 February 2006

Sixmonths after Iran's new president came to power human rightsviolations remain widespread and the new government hasfailed to take any action to address the situation, AmnestyInternational revealed in a report published today.

"TheIranian government should take concrete steps to improve thehuman rights situation in the country," said AmnestyInternational. "The current standoff regarding the country'snuclear programme must not distract either the government orthe international community from addressing the country'slong-standing human rights problems."

The report Iran: NewGovernment Fails to Address Dire Human Rights Situationdescribes ongoing violations and expresses concern aboutwhat appears to be intensifying repression since the newgovernment took office in August 2005. The report focuses onthe long-standing repression of ethnic minorities and thelimitations on the freedom of expression. It also addressesthe death penalty and the frequent use of torture.

Despiteconstitutional guarantees of equality, the reportestablishes that since President Ahmadinejad's election,members of Iran's ethnic and religious minorities have beenkilled, detained or harassed solely in connection with theirethnicity or faith.

In one incident, several members ofthe Ahwazi Arab community were killed and scores injured bysecurity forces using excessive force during ongoing violentunrest in Khuzestan Province. In a different incident,Iranian security forces were reported to have used liveammunition, tear gas and beatings with batons to suppressstone-throwing demonstrators in mid-September 2005. At leasttwo people were reported killed and many injured.

Iranianlegislation severely restricts freedom of expression andassociation and human rights activists often face reprisalsfor their work. Harassment, intimidation, attacks,detention, imprisonment and torture of activists andjournalists have continued under the new government.

InOctober 2005, Press Courts were reintroduced to try allegedbreaches of the Press Code, which contains vaguely-wordedprovisions that can be used to punish people for thepeaceful expression of their opinions. Dozens of journalistsand newspapers began to be examined with some journalistsreceiving suspended prison sentences.

"We urge theIranian authorities to review law and practice to ensurethat no one is imprisoned as a prisoner of conscience ordiscriminated against solely on account of their politicalopinions, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality or language,"said Amnesty International.

Amnesty International hascontinued to receive new reports of torture andill-treatment of detainees which remain routine in manyprisons and detention centres. Denial of medical treatmentas a method to exerting pressure on political prisoners hasalso emerged as an increasingly common occurrence, as in thecase of investigative reporter Akbar Ganji.

Akbar Ganjiwas arrested in April 2000 and sentenced to 10 years'imprisonment, which was reduced on appeal to six months, for"taking part in an offence against national security" and"propaganda against the Islamic system". In July 2001 he wasagain brought to trial on charges of "collectingconfidential state documents to jeopardize state security"and "spreading propaganda", and was sentenced to six years imprisonment. Following a hunger strike in protest at beingdenied independent medical treatment outside prison, he wastemporarily released for medical treatment in July 2005. Hewas returned to prison in September 2005 and placed insolitary confinement. A month later he told his wife that hehad been beaten by security forces while in hospital priorto his return to prison.

"The Iranian authorities mustconduct investigations into all allegations of torture orill-treatment, and take effective measures to bring anyoneimplicated in human rights violations to justice," saidAmnesty International. "Urgent and effective measures arealso needed to ensure that the use of torture is eradicatedonce and for all."

Amnesty International recorded 69executions between July 2005 and the end of January 2006,including two of youths reportedly under 18 at the time oftheir execution. Death sentences continue to be imposed forvaguely worded charges such as "corruption on earth", forconsensual private adult sexual relations and for otheroffences such as drinking alcohol, as well as for crimessuch as rape, murder and drug-trafficking.

Theorganization is asking the authorities to demonstrate theirrespect for the inherent right to life by ordering amoratorium on executions, and by taking immediate steps toprevent further executions of minors or persons who wereunder 18 at the time of their alleged crimes.

"PresidentAhmadinejad and the Iranian govenrment need to take urgent,concrete measures to ensure that the fundamental humanrights of all persons in Iran are protected irrespective oftheir gender, ethnicity andfaith."
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