Thank you, Mr. President,
Iran has a multitude of peoples, minorities, and religions but the situation of minorities in terms of the
conduct of the the judicial system, the police, and the security apparatus does not reach the international or
even local human rights standards.
The judiciary contributes to the suppression of political movements of peoples and minorities, especially
Ahwazi Arab. This in cooperation with the security apparatus and the intelligence [agencies], especially in
relation to the mass executions of activists [belonging to] peoples and minorities.
The Iranian Vice-President, Ali Yunis, said that the perspective of the security [apparatus] controls the
mentality of the men of the state in Iran towards the minorities. This important issue shows us that the
security perspective controls the state's decision toward minority cases.
The other important issue is the politicization of the Iranian judiciary, which is subjected entirely to the will
of the security apparatus. Consequently, the issuance of death sentences in the courts of the revolution
increased against activists, especially [against] Arab, Kurds, and Baluchis.
The Iranian authorities have executed 70 Ahwazi Arab activists on flimsy security or political charges,
such as threatening national security, fighting against God and His Prophet, and similar [charges]. The
Iranian police practice excessive violence against Ahwazi Arab, especially during peaceful protests. On
the past 9th of November, a young man, Ali Reda Jalali, aged 17, was killed at the hands of a police
officer, who randomly opened fire at him during a raid by security forces on popular cafes, bars, and
restaurants in the Nahda and Shakrabad neighbourhoods.
We demand that the Iranian government commits, as a party, to the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, and respects freedom of expression in accordance with Article 19, and the freedom of
peaceful assembly in accordance with Article 21 of the same charter.
Finally, we demand that Ahwazi Arabs be allowed to use their mother tongue in courts and police stations,
to ensure their rights and not be exposed to discrimination.