Impact Iran

The Special Rapporteur urges the Iranian Government to immediately drop all charges against Ms. Rahemipour and to halt any acts of retaliation against relatives, witnesses and human rights defenders who report cases of enforced disappearances, pursuant to article 13 (3) and (5) of the Declaration on the Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance adopted by General Assemble resolution 47/133.

The Special Rapporteur reiterates his appeal to the Government to take all necessary measures to guarantee that human rights defenders are subject to fair proceedings before an independent and impartial tribunal

The Special Rapporteur notes that numerous communications sent during this reporting period relate to imprisoned human rights defenders who are serving long sentences for their peaceful activities in defence of human rights. The Special Rapporteur acknowledges receipt of the substantive response from the Government to the communication dated19 April 2016 regarding the alleged arbitrary detention and charges issued against human rights defender and journalist, Ms. Narges Mohammadi. The Special Rapporteur further acknowledges the two detailed responses received to the communication dated 22 July 2016 regarding the alleged arbitrary arrests and detentions as well as denial of adaquate medical services to Mr. Abdolfattah Soltani, Mr. Arash Sadeghi,and Ms. Narges Mohammadi. The Special Rapporteur appreciates the information received by the Government that the prison charges the human rights defenders are facing have been reduced through implementation of article 134 of the Islamic Penal Code and selective pardons. The sentences of Mr. Soltani were commuted from 18 years imprisonment to ten years imprisonment, while those of Ms. Mohammadi were reduced from 16 years to ten years and finally Mr. Sadeghi's sentences were commuted from an alleged 19 years sentence (including the application of a suspended sentence from a previous case) to seven and a half years. The Special Rapporteur acknowledges that the Government refutes the allegations, nevertheless, he remains seriously concerned that the charges seem to be directly related to their legitimate work as human rights defenders and lawyers, as well as the legitimate exercise of their rights to freedom of opinion and expression and freedom of association. As such, he urges the Government to take all necessary action to release the imprisoned defenders.

The Special Rapporteur appeals to the Government to take all necessary measures to guarantee that all human rights defenders are subject to fair proceedings before an independent and impartial tribunal. The Special Rapporteur is alarmed at the numerous reports of human rights defenders who were deprived of due process and denied their rights to legal counsel. He is concerned with thelegal persecution of individualsfor exercising their legitimate rights to freedom of opinion and expression, peaceful assembly and association

Due to the severity of the cases, the Special Rapporteur urges the Government to respond to the communications sent, as grave concern is expressed about the state of health of Ms. Daemi and Mr. Mirdamadi and their limited access to medical treatment.

The Special Rapporteur strongly urges the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to fully cooperate with the mandates of the Special Rapporteur in the future, particularly due to the serious allegations addressed, and to provide information on the communications sent.

The Special Rapporteur urges the authorities to provide information on the remaining three detainees, as well as those included in other communications during the present reporting period, as soon as possible as grave concern is expressed about their state of health and limited access to medical treatment.

The Special Rapporteur urges the Government of Iran to take immediate steps to ensure that human rights defenders are able to carry out their work in a safe and enabling environment without fear of detention, harassment and prosecution. She remains available to provide any guidance or assistance that the Government might require in this regard.

The Special Rapporteur further expresses concern about reports she has received of illegitimate restrictions imposed on the right of human rights defenders to freedom of opinion and expression. The Special Rapporteur urges the Government to take the necessary measures to guarantee the existence of an environment in which all human rights defenders can carry out their legitimate work without risk to their physical and psychological integrity or any other form of restriction, harassment, intimidation or fear of persecution, in accordance with the fundamental principles endorsed in the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.

The Special Rapporteur urges the Government to take the necessary measures to guarantee the existence of an environment in which all human rights defenders can carry out their legitimate work without risk to their physical and psychological integrity or to any form of restriction, harassment, intimidation or fear of persecution, in accordance with the fundamental principles endorsed in the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. On the subject of defenders working to promote women's rights, she encourages the Government to pay particular attention to the recommendations given in her report to the Human Rights Council in 2011 (A/HRC/16/44, para.109-112).