Warning by the UN Fact-Finding Mission about the Escalation of the Human Rights Crisis in Iran
According to the Balochistan Human Rights Group, today, Thursday, 21 March 2026, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission of the United Nations on Iran warned that the deep human rights crisis in the country may worsen following U.S. and Israeli attacks and the escalation of military tensions in the region. In a report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council, the mission stated that widespread patterns of state repression in Iran continue, including the use of lethal violence against protesters, mass arrests, severe restrictions on freedom of expression, and internet shutdowns during protests.
The report also highlights a significant increase in the use of the death penalty. It states that hundreds of executions have been reported, including in cases related to drug offenses, some of which were allegedly based on forced confessions obtained under torture. The report also refers to discrimination and repression against religious and ethnic minorities, including Baha’is, Arabs, and Kurds, documenting cases of property confiscation and arbitrary arrests.
According to the mission, alongside increasing reports of gender-based killings, the repression of women and girls remains one of the central pillars of state policy. This includes harassment, arrests, and violent treatment of women who refuse to comply with compulsory hijab laws. The report also expresses concern about the situation of detainees, the risk of torture and enforced disappearances, and the restriction of people’s access to information as a result of internet shutdowns.
The mission also pointed to cases of transnational repression, including attempts to assassinate or digitally threaten Iranians and dual nationals abroad, as well as pressure on their families inside Iran. It further stated that the forced deportation of Afghan citizens belonging to sexual and gender minorities from Iran to Afghanistan constitutes a violation of the principle of non-refoulement.
