UN: Rights situation in Iran 'deeply disturbing'

The U.N. Human Rights Rapporteur on Iran described as "deeply disturbing" the execution of roughly 850 people  over the past 15 months. Ahmed Shaheed will deliver his report on the “severe malfunctions” in the country’s justice system to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday.

While careful to avoid blaming Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani for the "surge" in executions, Shaheed nonetheless criticized Rouhani for failing to deliver on his campaign promises.

"The range of capital crimes is shocking," said Shaheed told reporters on Monday.

"We have seen a person executed for making a donation to a foreign organization."

Shaheed suggested that an internal power struggle and lack of political backing hinder positive change within the county.

Still, he said that Iran has agreed to review some of its policies on executions and prison conditions, and does engage in dialogue with other states, adding that Iran is keen to protect its reputation countries such as Brazil and South Africa, even if it seems dismissive of Western criticisms.

Shaheed said he was concerned that ongoing negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program had allowed focus on human rights issues – such as the 300 people imprisoned for religious practices and the high rate of child marriages (over 40,000 between 2012 and 2013) to fall by the wayside.

He dismissed concerns that tough sanctions on the country might make its hardline elements less inclined to address concerns on its human rights track record.

“I don’t see Iran being deterred by lack of incentive on human rights…human rights movement relies not so much on governments as on civil society, whether that’s Iranian or international,” said Shaheed, the rights rapporteur on Iran since 2011.

“And that’s where most of the criticism comes from – the Iranians themselves.”

Shaheed expressed shock at the execution of 26-year-old Reyhaneh Jabbari, who was convicted of murdering a man she claimed had tried to sexually assault her.

“Iran has clearly failed to protect her rights,” said the rapporteur, a Maldivian who has not been allowed to visit Iran. 

He added that “she was not given a fair trial.”

Al Jazeera and agencies