Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Iran, Javaid Rehman
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
As Delivered by Ambassador Michèle Taylor
Human Rights Council – 49th Session
March 17, 2022
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you Special Rapporteur Rehman, for your stark and detailed overview of the situation in Iran.
The United States strongly condemns use of the death penalty for juvenile offenders and laments the executions of Sajad Sanjari and Arman Abdolali. We are deeply concerned about the imminent execution of Hossein Shahbazi.
We are alarmed by Iran’s repression of the right to freedom of expression in online fora, including disrupting communications through internet shutdowns, measures to unlawfully or arbitrarily block or take down media websites and social networks, and other widespread restrictions on Internet access or dissemination of information online.
We are concerned about continued efforts to target activists who speak out in defiance of the regime, including Hossein Ronaghi, who has been detained on several occasions for his free speech activism. We note Iran also targets dissidents overseas.
We continue to implore Iran to allow the Special Rapporteur’s team access.
Question: How can we balance the high risk of retaliation that Iranian individuals and organizations face for engaging with international human rights mechanisms with the need to gather information and create a space for engagement?I thank you.
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