U.S. Statement at the Universal Periodic Review of Iran
As delivered by Chargé d’Affaires Mark Cassayre
For decades, Iran has flagrantly violated its citizens’ human rights.
We recommend Iran:
- Immediately release all Iranian prisoners of conscience, including Narges Mohammadi, Nasrin Sotoudeh, Youcef Nadarkhani, and Esmail Bakhshi, and others unjustly detained, including U.S. citizens Xiyue Wang, Bob Levinson, and Siamak Namazi.
- Immediately end the use of torture, and credibly investigate and prosecute all allegations of torture, including the deaths in custody of Kavous Seyed-Emami and Mohammad Raji, and prosecute those found responsible.
- Establish an independent judiciary, including significant reforms to the Revolutionary Courts, and implement fair trial guarantees.
- Abolish laws requiring women to wear hijabs in public, end legal prohibitions on women’s full participation in society, and stop criminalizing women’s calls for reform.
We urge the government to allow the Special Rapporteur on Iran to visit the country and investigate existing practices.