The report highlights the disproportionate number of executions of members of minority communities, in particular the Baluch and Kurds, as well as the excessive use of force and arbitrary detentions affecting minorities in Iran. Particular cases within the report include the continuing detention of two Ahwazi Arab brothers, Abbas and Mohsen Deris, who were arrested in November 2019 for having participated in the Mahshahr (Ma'ashur) protests and the use of intimidation, judicial harassment and mass arrests, against teachers and labour rights defenders.

In June 2022, The UNPO, together with the Association of Human Rights in Kurdistan – Geneva (KMMK-G), the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization (AHRO), the Balochistan Human Rights Group (BHRG) and Xaxuran (collective focused on the right of Gilak people in Iran) have submitted a report to the UN OHCHR Special Rapporteur on Iran, Mr. Javaid Rehman, drawing attention to the human rights situation of minorities in Iran including the growing phenomenon of reprisals conducted by the Iranian government against Iranian citizens abroad.

The UNPO further underlined the ongoing discrimination, persecutions, imprisonment and execution by the Iranian government, targeting members of ethnic minorities including Baluchs, Kurds, Ahwazi Arabs, Azerbaijani Turks, and other ethnic minorities. We are therefore pleased that the issue of the violation of the rights of minorities are raised and reflected within the Special Rapporteurs recent report. And we hope that the international community take notice of these violations and take steps toward holding Iran responsible for its actions.

The report of the Special Rapporteur on Iran can be found here.