Abolish Sentencing Children to Death in Iran - UN Special Rapporteur (Press Conference)

Press Briefing by Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In the wake of the execution of Zeinab Sekaanvand, a fifth juvenile to be executed in Iran this year, Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in this central-Asian country appealed “to the Iranian authorities to abolish the practice of sentencing children to death and to commute all death sentences issued against children in line with the international law.”
Briefing reporters after he presented his first report on the situation of human rights in Iran today to the third committee of the UN General Assembly, Rehman said “the challenges faced in Iran should be met by a constructive response, which places the international human rights law at its heart” and added that he hopes “to engage with the government of Iran and build on the cordial cooperation which has been extended to me thus far despite potentially diverging views including different views on the mandate itself.”
The Special Rapporteur said he welcomed “the decision of Iran to mend its drugs-trafficking law, which has led to a marked reduction in the number of those executed for drug offenses” but also that he is “alarmed that Zeinab Sekaanvand was executed on first of October.”
He said “I also recall that there a number of juveniles currently on death row in Iran including Mohamed Kolahari, Medi Khazian, Mohamed Hadidi, Purata Ibbi, Saleh Sherati. I appeal to the Iranian authorities to abolish the practice of sentencing children to death and to commute all death sentences issued against children in line with the international law.”
Commenting on the government crackdown on the wave of protests taking place across Iran since the beginning of the year, leading to multiple deaths of protesters, Rehman said “In the coming months, it will important for the government to both address grievances underling the protest and also safeguard the right to freedom of assembly.”
He also said he remains “concerned by the fate of those arrested during the protest and call upon the government to ensure that all those imprisoned for peacefully exercising freedom of opinion and expression are released.”
Special Rapporteurs are part of the Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council and work on a voluntary basis. They are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.