Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions A/HRC/29/37/Add.5
para 41
Full recommendation:
The Special Rapporteur is grateful to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran for its
responses concerning Mr. Arzhang Davoodi and Mrs. Yeganeh Salehi. He is following closely
further developments on the cases mentioned in the communication. Therefore, the Special
Rapporteur would appreciate receiving information on the proceedings against Mr. Arzhang
Davoodi and Mr. Jason Rezaian, as well as additional details on the case of Mrs. Yeganeh
Salehi, who according to the information provided by the Government was released on bail on 1
October 2014. The Special Rapporteur regrets that the Government did not provide information
on the allegations regarding the detention of the other two journalists on the evening of 22 July
2014. He urges authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran that all proceedings fully comply with
international law standards.
Assessment using Impact Iran human rights indicators1
According to information received by UN Special Procedures, Mr. Arzhang Davoodi was
sentenced to death on the charge of moharebeh (“enmity against God”), reportedly based on his
alleged membership and support of the banned group, People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran
(PMOI), on 20 July 2014. Reports indicated that Mr. Davoodi was not provided with necessary
guarantees of due process and the right to a fair trial. Mr. Davoodi has been in prison since 2003
based on a series of different charges. While in detention he has reportedly suffered ill-treatment
and torture. 2 Following an appeal, the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence, and the
case was sent to a court of first instance.3 The Islamic Republic of Iran has not provided further
details on the proceedings concerning Mr. Davoodi or whether they complied fully with
international law standards.
According to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, on 22 July 2014, Mr. Jason
Rezaian and his wife Ms. Yeganeh Salehi, both journalists, were arrested. Ms. Salehi was
released on bail but circumstances of her arrest remain unclear. Mr. Rezaian remained detained
on charges of espionage.4 The Islamic Republic of Iran has not provided details of the
proceedings concerning Mr. Rezaian and Ms. Salehi or whether they complied fully with
1
CCPR.6.2.S.1; CCPR.9.1.S.1; CCPR.9.2.S.1
CCPR.6.2.P.1; CCPR.9.2.P.1
2
Special Procedures Communication, IRN 16/2014 ,
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=15796
3
Reply of the Islamic Republic of Iran to UN Special Procedures Communication IRN 16/2014, January 2015,
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=32249
4
Reply of the Islamic Republic of Iran to UN Special Procedures Communication IRN 16/2014, December 2014,
https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadFile?gId=32248
1