Organization: Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada
Item 4: General debate
Date: 23 September 2025
Speaker: Paria Saremi
Oral Statement to the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council from Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada (LRWC), and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute, NGOs in special consultative status
Iran: Crackdown on human rights since the June 2025 ceasefire between Iran and Israel
Mr. President,
Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute are alarmed by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s unprecedented crackdown on human rights since the June 2025 ceasefire between Iran and Israel. Since June, thousands have been detained without fair trials on suspicion of “collaboration” or “espionage” for Israel.” Iran has executed over 860 people this year without fair trials – 110 in July alone. Minorities such as Kurds, Baha’is, Balouchis, Ahwazi Arabs, are overrepresented among them. Defenders are among 600,000 Afghan refugees forcibly deported,, despite risks of refoulement.
Iran continues to weaponize the legal system against human rights defenders and lawyers. More than 60 lawyers are imprisoned in Iran for political reasons. Others face disbarment or exile. At least 20 lawyers have reportedly been killed or died under state pressure. Since the ceasefire, 15 lawyers have been falsely charged with “propaganda against the state” for social media posts on corruption and rights violations.
Women’s rights defenders face particular risks in light of Iran’s severe new hijab law which prescribes extremely harsh punishments, including execution.
Iran silences lawyers and defenders in exile through threats to families, surveillance, and smear campaigns.
We urge the Council to increase its attention to these grave violations and insist that Iran fulfil its international law obligations.
Thank you.
