A/HRC/61/33 migrants, and about reports of racial profiling by security forces. The Committee regretted delays in adopting a law against racism and the lack of transparency in accountability mechanisms. It urged Spain to expedite the adoption of the law against racism, to explicitly prohibit racial profiling in legislation and to ensure transparency and training for law enforcement.19 22. In July, United Nations human rights experts raised concerns over events of physical violence causing death by vigilante groups in India, groups which were allegedly, disproportionately targeting the minority Muslim community. They noted that those acts, often carried out with impunity, were reportedly enabled by state-level cow protection laws that shifted the burden of proof to the accused and had been misused to justify violence. The experts recalled that it was the responsibility of States to exercise due diligence to prevent, punish, investigate and redress the harm caused by non-State actors and to bring perpetrators to justice.20 23. In her report to the General Assembly issued in August, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran expressed concern over the systemic discrimination and repression faced by ethnic and religious minorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, including Afghans, Arabs, Azerbaijani Turks, Baha’is, Balouch, Christians, Kurds and Yarsan. She highlighted the disproportionate impact of the death penalty on minorities, with Baloch and Kurdish individuals overrepresented in executions for drug and security-related offences, respectively. She appealed to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to ensure equal treatment before the law without distinction on the basis of, inter alia, ethnicity or religion, to end the targeting of ethnic and religious minorities, to reinstate legal documentation for undocumented minorities and to guarantee access to public services.21 The concerns raised by the Special Rapporteur were echoed by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran.22 24. In September, in her report to the Human Rights Council, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation noted the expansion of a State-sponsored nationalist ideology that had normalized identity-based discrimination and violence, including against ethnic minorities and Indigenous Peoples. In her recommendations, inter alia, she called upon the Russian authorities to end the targeting of Indigenous Peoples’ and national minorities’ organizations and advocates with “extremist” and “terrorist” designations.23 25. In October, the Chair of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic expressed alarm over the targeting and victimization of ethnic and religious minorities amid renewed violence in the country, referring to the situation of the Alawi community. He highlighted the forced displacement of Druze and Bedouin communities and warned of rising hate speech and intercommunal mistrust. He called for urgent accountability, inclusive dialogue and justice to prevent further violence and to rebuild trust between the interim authorities and the diverse communities of the Syrian Arab Republic.24 26. In October, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan expressed concern over the persistent discrimination and marginalization of ethnic and religious minorities. He noted violations affecting the Hazara, Ismaili Shia, Turkmen and Uzbek communities, including forced conversions, pressure to conform to Sunni education and land dispossession through land claims, which were often enforced through threats and violence. The Special Rapporteur called for the adoption of housing, land and property rights protocols that included safeguards for minorities and displaced persons and urged the 19 20 21 22 23 24 6 CCPR/C/ESP/CO/7, paras. 12 and 13. See https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunicationFile?gId=30104. A/80/349, paras. 24, 32, 35–38, 45–48 and 50 (o), (p) and (s). See www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/iran-un-fact-finding-mission-alarmed-surgerepression-and-extraordinary?sub-site=HRC. A/HRC/60/59, paras. 3, 137 and 141 (l). See www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2025/10/future-syria-balance-un-commission-sounds-alarmrenewed-violence-amid-hopes. GE.25-21065