United Nations Human Rights Council

58th session 

Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on human rights and the Independent and International Fact Finding Mission in Iran

18 March 2025

EU Statement

Mr President

The European Union would like to thank the Special Rapporteur and the Independent International Fact Finding Mission on Iran for their reports and presentations today.

Unfortunately, as both reports lay out, the human rights situation in the Islamic Republic of Iran remains dire. Two and a half years after the rise of the Women, Life, Freedom protests, women and girls continue to face systematic repression and discrimination every day. The reports in front of us clearly demonstrate widespread and structural human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

The repression of the rights of freedom of opinion and expression continues to be concerning. In light of this, we call upon the Iranian authorities to guarantee, human rights, including the human rights of women and girls as well as the rights of persons belonging to religious and ethnic minorities, the rights to freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of religion or belief, and freedom of peaceful assembly and association. 

Arbitrary arrests, the use of torture or other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishments, remain a major concern. We call on the Iranian authorities to stop arbitrary detentions, including of foreign citizens and dual nationals held for political gains, and to release all unjustly detained individuals. We urge Iran to ensure detention conditions are in line with international standards and all detainees have access to adequate medical care. 

The EU strongly opposes the use of the death penalty under all circumstances. We are particularly concerned about the dramatic rise in executions, with reportedly at least 901 people executed in 2024. The use of capital punishment as a response to domestic dissent, including against persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, is unacceptable. The EU urges the Islamic Republic of Iran to immediately introduce a moratorium on executions and subsequently abolish capital punishment altogether.

Finally, while welcoming recent engagement of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran with OHCHR as well as with the Special Rapporteur, we urge the Iranian authorities to cooperate with both mandates and to grant them access to Iran. We fully support the extension of these mandates and call on Iran to implement the relevant international treaties and agreements to which it is a party.

Thank you.