January, 28 2016, 10:15am EDT
France/Iran: Address Rights During Rouhani Visit
Presidents Should Discuss Concerns
PARIS
President Francois Hollande and President Hassan Rouhani should raise major human rights concerns in both countries when President Hassan Rouhani visits Paris on January 27 and 28, 2016 Human Rights Watch said today. An agenda of important political and economic issues should not prevent both presidents from raising their concerns. In Iran these include the death penalty, the abuse of rights of women and minorities, violations of freedom of expression, and the detention of activists and political prisoners. In France, the state of emergency declared by President Hollande extends police powers in ways that threaten to interfere with rights to liberty, privacy, and freedoms of movement, association and expression.
"Iran should release all those jailed simply for exercising their right to freedom of expression or assembly, while France needs to ensure that it uses its sweeping powers in narrowest possible way for the shortest possible time," said Benedicte Jeannerod, France director. "Talks on Syria and economic cooperation between Iran and France need to also include a frank discussion of human rights."
For several years, Iran has had one of the highest rates of executions in the world. Iran applies the death penalty for offenses that do not constitute internationally recognized "most serious crimes," including non-violent drug offenses. In many cases, the death penalty has been imposed after judicial proceedings that did not comply with international fair trial standards, some on the basis of coerced confessions.
Women are subject to systemic discrimination in various ways, including in access to employment or in legally regulated matters regarding marriage, divorce, child custody and inheritance. As documented by Human Rights Watch's #Watch4Women campaign, women are even banned from stadiums hosting competitions such as men's volleyball tournaments.
Violations of freedom of expression remain pervasive, with regular arrests of journalists and bloggers, and prosecution of Internet-related crimes by security forces and revolutionary courts. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Iran is one of the countries with the largest number of jailed journalists in the world.
President Hollande should emphasize respect for human rights during his discussions with President Rouhani, and call in particular for the following steps:
Free imprisoned journalists, human rights defenders, activists and other individuals who were convicted in Iran after unfair trials;
End discriminatory practices against women, including by amending legislation to advance women's rights.
Amend laws that permit the execution of people convicted of offenses that do not meet the "most serious crimes" standard, in particular drug offenders; and
Suspend all executions of prisoners who have been sentenced to death, often after unfair trials.
Human Rights Watch is one of the world's leading independent organizations dedicated to defending and protecting human rights. By focusing international attention where human rights are violated, we give voice to the oppressed and hold oppressors accountable for their crimes. Our rigorous, objective investigations and strategic, targeted advocacy build intense pressure for action and raise the cost of human rights abuse. For 30 years, Human Rights Watch has worked tenaciously to lay the legal and moral groundwork for deep-rooted change and has fought to bring greater justice and security to people around the world.
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