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