The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman on the situation of human rights in Iran – welcomes mass prisoner release linked to COVID-19
Overcrowding in Iran’s prisons remains serious in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, a UN appointed independent rights expert said on Tuesday -- despite the recent release of tens of thousands of prisoners.
Speaking in Geneva, Javaid Rehman, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, said that overcrowding is a source of infections and ill-health.
“I have highlighted my concerns, for example, issues of overcrowding. Iranian prisons and detention places have been overcrowded. That is a very disturbing feature. There is also this disturbing feature of lack of hygiene and sanitation. So this was a recipe for diseases,” he said.
Some preventive measures have been taken - Iran has temporarily freed about 70,000 prisoners to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
“These releases are only restricted to convictions of individuals (serving sentences) of up to 5 years. So that does not include people who have been charged and convicted of national security offences or serious crimes and also dual and foreign nationals,” Mr Rehman said.
Some seven thousand people were arrested during nationwide protests against the government in November 2019, when at least 300 people were killed, and some of those who remain in detention have been handed the death penalty, and are therefore not eligible for Iran’s programme of temporary release, a “very unfortunate and disturbing situation,” Mr Rehman said.
Across the country there has been a rapid expansion in the number of infections since the first two reported deaths in Qom on 19 February. Mr Rehman said that reportedly “little action was taken initially”, and that current measures are “still inadequate.”
“The current figures that we have are -these are official figures- that there are around 300 deaths and there are approximately 8000 cases of this disease. In my estimation the state has done too little and too late.”
Iran has not imposed widespread quarantine measures, despite having one of the world's worst death tolls outside of China, the epicenter of the outbreak.
Nonetheless, some improvements have been noted. “There are efforts being made to establish humanitarian corridors," Mr Rehman said. "And there is already work that is being done to support Iran’s efforts, to deal with the issue of medical equipment particularly with regards to kits and other relevant medication to deal with coronavirus.”
1. Wide shot: exterior, flag alley, Palais des Nations, United Nations Geneva
2. Wide shot: journalists, Room III
3. SOUNDBITE (EN) — UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Javaid Rehman: “I have highlighted my concerns, for example, issues of overcrowding. Iranian prisons and detention places have been overcrowded. That is a very disturbing feature. There is also this disturbing feature of lack of hygiene and sanitation. So this was a recipe for diseases.”
4. Two-shot: journalists
5. SOUNDBITE (EN) — UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Javaid Rehman: “The situation on Coronavirus is highly disturbing within Iran. The disease has spread widely, it had rapid expansion, since the first two reported deaths that we – the information that we received – took place in Qom on 19 February.”
6. Medium shot: journalist puts on her spectacles and leans forward
7. SOUNDBITE (EN) — UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Javaid Rehman: “The current figures that we have are -these are official figures- that there are around 300 deaths and there are approximately 8000 cases of this disease. In my estimation the state has done too little and too late.”
8. Medium shot: Journalist in foreground, Javaid Rehman out of focus in background
9. SOUNDBITE (EN) — UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Javaid Rehman: “These include the temporary release of 70 000 individuals who have been convicted. But these releases are only restricted to convictions of individuals of up to 5 years So that does not include people who have been charged and convicted of national security offences or serious crimes and also dual and foreign nationals.”
10.Close up: camera with monitor showing Javaid Rehman, cameraman leans in to eyepiece
11.SOUNDBITE (EN) — UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Javaid Rehman:“There are efforts being made to establish humanitarian corridors and there is already work that is being done to support Iran’s efforts, to deal with the issue of medical equipment particularly with regards to kits and other relevant medication to deal with coronavirus”
12.Two shot: journalists
13. Wide shot: journalists, Javaid Rehman in background
14. Medium shot: journalist working, two others are seen partially
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and the UN Human Rights Office have today released a report detailing the evolution of violent gang incidents beyond the capital Port-au-Prince since October 2024 up to June 2025, and the resulting loss of life and mass displacement.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , OHCHR
Gaza: ‘Unacceptable’ choice between getting shot or getting fed – UN humanitarians
Following the deaths of several children in an Israeli strike on Palestinians waiting in line for nutritional supplements in central Gaza on Thursday, UN humanitarians have once again condemned the killings of people at aid distribution sites in the enclave.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
At the United Nations bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights made the following comments on the recent violence in Kenya.
1
1
1
Edited News | ITC
US tariffs uncertainty hurts world economy, with poorest countries hit hardest – top UN economist
A new US decision to further delay the end of a 90-day pause on tariffs is bad for business, a top UN economist said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO , OHCHR
Gaza aid site horror continues as more starving people shot trying to get food
Amid intensifying hopes for a new Gaza ceasefire, UN humanitarians confirmed disturbing details on Friday of continued killings and injuries of Palestinians desperately seeking food at aid sites.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA
A clearer picture of needs across Iran is beginning to emerge after the conflict this month with Israel, which left hundreds dead, several hospitals hit and a spike in Afghan refugees returning home, the UN’s top official in Tehran said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | WMO
The blistering early-summer heatwave that’s brought life-threatening temperatures across much of the northern hemisphere is a worrying sign of things to come, UN weather experts said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk made the following remarks to the Human Rights Council annual panel on adverse impacts of climate change.
1
1
2
Edited News | WHO
The first meagre midweek delivery of urgently needed medical goods to enter Gaza in months will provide scant relief to the enclave’s people, who continue to be shot and killed as they search for food, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday.
2
1
2
Statements , Edited News | HRC
Enhanced interactive dialogue on the High Commissioner’s report on Myanmar presented by Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and oral update by Thomas Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar
1
1
1
Edited News | UNOG
The conflict-impacted people of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) urgently need much more international assistance than they are getting today, the UN’s top aid official said on Thursday.
1
1
2
Edited News | UNOG
Violence in Myanmar is spiralling as the military junta increases its attacks on monasteries, schools and camps sheltering people uprooted by the civil war, a top independent human rights investigator warned on Wednesday.