Germany urges Iran to respect human rights of people who seek probe into 1988 massacre
Channel: Justice for Victims of 1988 Massacre in Iran
Date: 30/03/2018

Germany used its address to the Human Rights Council on 12 March 2018 to urge Iran to respect the rights of people demanding an investigation into the 1988 massacre of political prisoners.

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37th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council
Geneva, 12. March 2018
Item 4
Discussion of the Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
German Statement

SPEAKER: Ms. Susanne Fries-Gaier

Mr. President,

Germany aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the European Union.

We pay our respect to Asma Jahangir and her tireless work as human rights defender, activist and in her capacity as Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

The situation of human rights in Iran still remains critical. Germany expresses its serious concerns at the restrictions on the right to freedom of expression, opinion, association and assembly, especially in the aftermath of the events at the turn of the year and the discrimination and systematic targeting of human rights defenders, women’s and minority rights activists, artists, journalists and persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized ethnic and religious minorities like the Baha'i or the LGBTI community. 

We call upon the Iranian leadership, judiciary and government to respect the Iranian people’s bid for political and economic participation and to respect the right to raise their complaints and demands including the call for an investigation of the 1988 events by guaranteeing their civil rights. Germany encourages the Iranian authorities to follow up President Rouhani´s own words - that people have to be able to voice their demands and that the state must respond to their grievances – with action. 

We acknowledge that the amended Anti-Narcotics Law significantly reduces the number of executions for drug offences provided that it is fully implemented. This new law is an important step. Nevertheless, Germany is deeply concerned about the persistent application of the death penalty in general and the alarming rate of executions in 2017. Especially, the execution practice for juvenile offenders is an unacceptable violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child and international human rights standards and must stop. 

Germany is opposed to the death penalty under any circumstances. Therefore we urge Iran to establish a moratorium on the use of capital punishment, to lift all death verdicts handed down to minors and to consider alternative punishments as provided for by Iranian law.

Thank you Mr. President.