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Over 318,500 people have died of the novel coronavirus in 547 cities across Iran, according to reports tallied daily by the Iranian opposition People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) as of Sunday June 27.

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The UN Rights Chief Michelle Bachelet on Monday, June 22, presented the UN’s annual report on the situation of human rights in Iran. She presented the Secretary-General’s report on human rights in Iran to the opening of the UN Human Rights Council’s 47th session, which will last until July 13. Michelle Bachelet noted that the Secretary-General’s report covered the period from 1 June 2020 to 17 March 2021. She pointed out violations of human rights as well as the economic tormoil in Iran which is very rare thing to do. She said: Economically, Iran faced deteriorating living standards, high inflation, and widespread unemployment, fueling discontent and protests. However, at the political level, the authorities had shown no willingness to adopt meaningful reforms, Mrs. Bachelet told the UN Human Rights Council.

In 2020, at least 267 people, including nine women, were executed. She also pointed out the executions of at least 69 Kurdish individuals, including some after convictions under vaguely defined charges, while executions of minorities, including Baloch, increased.

The UN Rights Chief pointed out that lawyers and numerous civil society activists had been imprisoned for advocating women’s rights and an end to compulsory veiling laws. Overall, the report found a disturbing human rights landscape for Iranian women and men of every religious faith, ethnic origin, social class, and other status. The High Commissioner expressed regret that the framework for the right to political participation was not in line with international standards.

The report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was published on June 9, 2021, in which he underlined the dire situation of human rights in Iran. https://tinyurl.com/57e57ee5