Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Sept. 3 condemned [10] the ongoing crackdown on civil opposition by the Iranian authorities following the conflict with Israel. According to the rights groups, the Iranian government is using national security as an excuse to target dissidents and minorities.
Sara Hashash, deputy regional director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International, said: "The authorities' domestic machinery of repression remains unrelenting as they ratchet up already oppressive widespread surveillance, mass arrests and incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence against minorities." Amnesty and HRW urged criminal accountability for unlawful arrests and executions.
Local news sources report [14] that since the outbreak of hostilies on June 13, Iranian authorities have arrested over 20,000 people on such dubious charges as espionage for Israel. For these individuals, possible execution is a point of serious concern. Gholamhossein Mohseni Eje'i, the Head of the Judiciary, stated [15] that those who cooperated with Israel would receive serious punishment, including the death penalty. In the first half of 2025, Iran executed [16] 612 people, doubling the number of past years and prompting serious human rights concerns from UN bodies. Moreover, legislation [17] has been proposed that would automatically designate espionage activities carried out for "hostile governments" as "corruption on earth," which is punishable by execution. This bill is awaiting approval by the Guardian Council.
The International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights (ICCPR) protects the inherent right to life under Article 6 [18]. While this article does not prohibit the death penalty, the wording suggests its abolition is desirable. Under the Second Optional Protocol [19] to the ICCPR, signatories agreed to abolish the death penalty. Iran has not signed this protocol.
The wave of unlawful arrests is also evidence of an attack against minorities in Iran. Michael Page, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at HRW, said: "Since June, the human rights situation in Iran has spiraled deeper into crisis with Iranian authorities scapegoating and targeting dissidents and minorities for a conflict they had nothing to do with." For instance, at least 330 individuals from the Kurdish ethnic minority have been arrested [20] since the start of the Israeli attacks. Religious minority groups also appear to be targeted, with Baha'i [11], Christian and Jewish minorities under threat.
Longstanding tensions between Iran and Israel exploded on June 13, when Israeli forces attacked several nuclear and military infrastructure sites across Iran. The conflict escalated further, leading to allegations of serious violations of international law [21], until a ceasefire agreement was reached on June 24.
From JURIST [22], Sept. 3. Used with permission. Internal links added.
See our last report on the crackdown [23] in Iran.
