As the Islamic Republic of Iran completed its final step in the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process on 01 July 2025, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) expresses alarm at the escalating risks faced by human rights defenders (HRDs), women human rights defenders (WHRDs) and journalists in Iran. As the conflict intensified, and Evin Prison in Tehran was bombed, recent developments have exacerbated long-standing patterns of repression against civil society.
As noted in GCHR’s oral statement to the UN Human Rights Council, Iran rejected all recommendations from States to adhere to international legal instruments, all recommendations to reduce or end the use of the death penalty, and all recommendations to release demonstrators. Furthermore, almost all recommendations on the freedoms of expression, peaceful assembly and association were rejected. In its statement, GCHR called on Iran to review the many rejected recommendations.
GCHR and CIVICUS had made a joint submission on Iran to the UPR, in which we examine Iran’s fulfillment of the rights to freedoms of association, expression and peaceful assembly and unwarranted restrictions on HRDs since its previous UPR examination in November 2019. The submission says, "We are deeply concerned by the systematic misuse of the criminal justice system to punish and retaliate against HRDs, journalists and protesters, including through the use of the death penalty to punish and deter peaceful human rights work. We are further alarmed by the criminalisation of advocacy for women’s rights and gender equality, characterised by systematic targeting and imprisoning of women HRDs (WHRDs) in repeated cycles of criminal litigation, including through the continuous filing of additional charges against WHRDs already serving lengthy prison sentences in retaliation for their peaceful human rights activities.”
Among the emblematic cases is that of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi, whose repeated imprisonment exemplifies the Iranian authorities’ persistent targeting of WHRDs. While Mohammadi is on medical furlough from Evin Prison, after her health has deteriorated due to denial of medical care, she remains at risk of being returned to prison. Despite international outcry, she continues to face harsh treatment for her peaceful advocacy against torture and solitary confinement. She was temporarily released on 04 December 2024 on medical leave but authorities pressured her to return to prison. Mohammadi refused to return to Evin prison on 25 December 2024, when the temporary suspension ended, and again in February 2025.
In addition, the bombings of Evin Prison on 20 June and 23 June 2025 by Israel during their attack on Iran has raised urgent concerns for the safety of detained HRDs and journalists, not just due to the possibility of death or injury, but due to potential reprisals.
GCHR has documented that Evin Prison has long been used to incarcerate peaceful activists, lawyers and journalists, making these attacks particularly concerning for the human rights community. GCHR strongly condemns any targeting of Evin Prison, where hundreds of prisoners of conscience, including human rights defenders in addition to journalists and online activists, are being held.
According to Iran’s judiciary, the Israeli airstrike on Evin Prison on 23 June 2025 killed 71 people and took place just before a ceasefire, following an Israeli warning. Consequently, the attack drew strong international condemnation for targeting a civilian facility. This attack reportedly caused severe damage to the Women’s Ward, Ward 8, the prosecutor’s office, and the infirmary, leaving wounded prisoners, which include women and their children (those under two are kept with their mothers).
Narges Mohammadi posted on X "According to reports, prisoners are being transferred to prisons around Tehran. Families are filled with fear and anxiety. When prisoners are relocated under such conditions, we lose access to accurate information about them.” She also posted photos of the destruction at Evin Prison (main photo).
Death penalty for human rights defenders
This attack occurs in the context of continued state of violence and judicial repression targeting HRDs and WHRDs, including the systematic use of the death penalty. In February 2025, GCHR signed a joint statement led by FEMENA and signed by numerous civil society organisations calling for justice for Pakhshan Varisheh, Varisheh Moradi, and other prisoners facing execution for their participation in the women’s rights protest movement. Mojahed (Abbas) KourKouri, Mehdi Hassani and Behrouz Ehsani, who were arrested during the "Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising, have all been sentenced to death. The joint statement denounced the execution of political prisoners as a method of silencing dissent, especially among Kurdish and minority activists. The use of capital punishment in Iran, particularly in the absence of fair trial guarantees, remains a grave concern. GCHR had previously reported on these cases in 2024, calling for accountability and transparency in Iran’s judicial system.
Among the alarming death penalty cases is that of Pakhshan Azizi, a Kurdish humanitarian worker and woman human rights defender, who was arrested on 04 August 2023 and later sentenced to death by Branch 26 of the Tehran Revolutionary Court in July 2024 on charges of "armed rebellion” and "membership of opposition groups,” despite her documented peaceful social work with refugees in Syria. Her trial was plagued by serious due‑process violations including coerced confessions under torture, denial of legal counsel and family visits, and lack of transparency in proceedings. In January 2025, Iran’s Supreme Court upheld the death sentence, ignoring UN experts’ pleas that her case did not meet the "most serious crimes” threshold required for capital punishment under international law. While in Evin Prison’s women’s ward, Azizi was subjected to solitary confinement, with restricted access to lawyers and family, and punitive new charges.
Varisheh Moradi, another WHRD and Kurdish political prisoner, has also been sentenced to death by the Iranian judiciary on similar charges of affiliation with armed groups opposing the government. Her case remains under appeal.
In addition, Sharifeh Mohammadi was again sentenced to death on 13 February 2025, after the Supreme Court had overturned her initial death sentence on 13 October 2024, and ordered a retrial. The Campaign to Defend Mohammadi stated that her death sentence was issued based on her affiliation with a labour organisation more than a decade ago, but was really a reprisal for her peaceful labour activism. She was arrested on 05 December 2023 in Rasht and remains in prison there. Rights groups protested her sham trial and alleged that she was tortured and forced to give a confession.
Their executions are still pending but the bombing was reportedly used as a pretext to put other prisoners to death on accusations of spying.
Internet Shutdowns
Moreover, the Iranian authorities continue to impose widespread Internet shutdowns, particularly during periods of unrest or military escalation, in blatant violation of fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, access to information, and the right to peaceful assembly, all protected under international law including Articles 19 to 22 of the ICCPR. These shutdowns severely hinder the ability of human rights defenders, women human rights defenders, and journalists to do their work. In fact, they are unable to report on human rights violations in real time, to alert international partners, to coordinate legal assistance, or even to maintain contact with their families or networks.
In June 2025, FEMENA documented how the blackout imposed during and after the bombing of Iran that began on 13 June 2025 blocked the flow of critical information. Internet shutdowns deliberately obstruct solidarity efforts and shield the state’s actions from scrutiny. FEMENA also highlighted that the blackout coincided directly with military strikes, suggesting it was intentionally imposed to conceal potential violations.
In addition, civil society organisations have documented that Iranian authorities frequently redirect users to the National Information Network, a heavily controlled intranet, effectively cutting off access to global sources and independent media. This tactic serves not only to restrict communications but also to manufacture a one-sided state narrative. The cost of such shutdowns is immense. Aside from their devastating impact on civil liberties, past incidents have shown they disrupt public services, education, healthcare and economic activity. For example, the damages caused by Internet shutdown in Iran amount to nearly $369 million on a daily basis. These deliberate, large-scale Internet restrictions thus represent a digital form of repression that continues to silence dissent and endanger the lives and work of countless human rights defenders and journalists in Iran.
As the Iranian government employs both physical and digital repression to consolidate its power, GCHR calls for urgent international attention to the situation of HRDs, WHRDs and journalists in Iran. Impunity for violations of international law must not be allowed to persist, and the Iranian authorities must be held accountable.
Even in times of war, international law remains fully applicable, including with regard to the protection of political prisoners. As a State Party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Iran is legally obligated to uphold the rights of all individuals deprived of their liberty. This includes adherence to Article 10, which affirms that all detainees must be treated with humanity and respect for their inherent dignity, and Article 7, which prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment under any circumstances. Failure to uphold these obligations constitutes a breach of international law.
Considering the severe implications for civil society following the recent war in Iran, the international action and efforts become crucial to ensure that Iran abides by its obligations under International Law and that fundamental rights are upheld without discrimination or delay.
As the UN Human Rights Council completes the UPR of Iran, GCHR also calls on the UN member states and global leaders to take immediate and decisive action by demanding the unconditional release of all human rights defenders, protesters and other political prisoners. GCHR urges the United Nations and global leaders to take action by demanding the protection of all detainees at risk and safeguards against arbitrary arrests and prosecutions carried out without following Iran’s own legal provisions.
Recommendations:
Accordingly, GCHR calls on the Iranian authorities to:
Immediately release all human rights defenders, protesters and other political prisoners, in line with Iran’s own legal provisions applicable during times of crisis and risk;
Immediately suspend the executions of all those facing the death penalty simply for exercising their rights to freedom of assembly and expression, with particular attention to cases involving detainees lacking fair trial guarantees;
Ensure all detainees have continuous access to basic rights, including safe and hygienic living conditions, proper medical treatment for all those who are ill or injured, food, clean water, legal counsel, and regular contact with their families and attorneys;
Provide clear information regarding the location, status, and condition of all detainees, including those relocated or transferred amid the war; and
Refrain from shutting down the Internet during times of crisis and allow free access to independent sources and media.
source/ GCHR