UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has expressed alarm over a sharp escalation in repression in Iran amid ongoing conflict, warning that fundamental rights are being increasingly violated. According to the UN human rights office, at least 21 people have been executed and more than 4,000 arrested on national security-related charges since late February, including individuals linked to protests, alleged opposition activity, and espionage accusations. Türk stressed that even in wartime, protections such as safeguards against arbitrary detention and the right to a fair trial must be fully respected, calling for an immediate halt to executions, a moratorium on capital punishment, and the release of those arbitrarily detained.
The UN also raised concerns over reports of torture, coerced confessions, lack of legal representation, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating conditions for prisoners, including high-profile detainees. Authorities have further intensified restrictions through one of the world’s longest internet shutdowns, lasting over 60 days, severely limiting access to information and impacting social and economic life. Türk warned that these measures are deepening an already fragile humanitarian and economic situation and called for the shutdown to be lifted immediately.
The broader regional context remains highly volatile, with continued conflict also affecting civilians in Lebanon, Gaza, and surrounding areas, where displacement, attacks on infrastructure, and rising humanitarian needs are further straining protection systems and aid delivery.
