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OHCHR / IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
STORY: OHCHR / IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS
TRT: 02:19
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 06 OCTOBER 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / FILE
FILE - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
1. Wide shot, exterior Palais des Nations
06 OCTOBER 2020, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet is today expressing deep concern at the deteriorating situation of human rights defenders, lawyers and political prisoners held in Iran’s prisons and has called on the authorities to release them given the danger presented by COVID-19.”
3. Med shot, journalist
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Iran is the country most affected by COVID-19 in the region. Its prison system suffers from chronic overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions. There are shortages of water, hygiene products and disinfectant, and insufficient protective equipment and testing kits. There is also a shortage of isolation spaces and inadequate medical care -- all of which is contributing to the spread of the virus among detainees and reportedly resulting in a number of deaths.”
5. Med shot, journalist
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“One of the most emblematic cases is that of Nasrin Sotoudeh, who received a combined sentence of over 30 years in prison on charges related to her human rights work. We believe her life is at considerable risk as she suffers from a heart condition and has been weakened by a long hunger strike. The High Commissioner is urging the authorities to release her immediately.”
7. Med shot, journalist
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“More generally, we are extremely concerned about the Iranian authorities’ persistent and systematic targeting of individuals who express any dissenting view, the criminalization of the exercise of fundamental rights, and use of the criminal justice system as a tool to silence civil society.”
9. Close up, journalist writing
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“All sentences of people detained without sufficient legal basis should be reviewed, and the High Commissioner is calling in particular for the unconditional release of human rights defenders, lawyers, political prisoners, peaceful protesters and all other individuals deprived of their liberty for expressing their views or otherwise exercising their rights. It is of course particularly important to rectify such injustices at this time, when COVID-19 is coursing through Iran’s prisons.”
Starting in February, the Iranian judiciary issued a number of directives on temporary releases of prisoners to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. According to official figures, some 120,000 inmates were released as a result. However, more recently, prisoners have been required to return in large numbers.
In addition, people sentenced to more than five years in prison for “national security” offences were excluded. As a result, many arbitrarily detained prisoners -- including human rights defenders, lawyers, dual and foreign nationals, conservationists, and others jailed for expressing their views or exercising other rights -- have been placed at a heightened risk of contracting the virus.
SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet is today expressing deep concern at the deteriorating situation of human rights defenders, lawyers and political prisoners held in Iran’s prisons and has called on the authorities to release them given the danger presented by COVID-19.”
SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“Iran is the country most affected by COVID-19 in the region. Its prison system suffers from chronic overcrowding and poor sanitary conditions. There are shortages of water, hygiene products and disinfectant, and insufficient protective equipment and testing kits. There is also a shortage of isolation spaces and inadequate medical care -- all of which is contributing to the spread of the virus among detainees and reportedly resulting in a number of deaths.”
SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“One of the most emblematic cases is that of Nasrin Sotoudeh, who received a combined sentence of over 30 years in prison on charges related to her human rights work. We believe her life is at considerable risk as she suffers from a heart condition and has been weakened by a long hunger strike. The High Commissioner is urging the authorities to release her immediately.”
SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“More generally, we are extremely concerned about the Iranian authorities’ persistent and systematic targeting of individuals who express any dissenting view, the criminalization of the exercise of fundamental rights, and use of the criminal justice system as a tool to silence civil society.”
SOUNDBITE (English) Rupert Colville, Spokesperson, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“All sentences of people detained without sufficient legal basis should be reviewed, and the High Commissioner is calling in particular for the unconditional release of human rights defenders, lawyers, political prisoners, peaceful protesters and all other individuals deprived of their liberty for expressing their views or otherwise exercising their rights. It is of course particularly important to rectify such injustices at this time, when COVID-19 is coursing through Iran’s prisons.”
One of the most emblematic cases is that of prominent lawyer and women’s rights defender, Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was given a combined prison sentence of over 30 years on charges related to her human rights work. Her life is believed to be at considerable risk as she suffers from a heart condition, and has been weakened by a long hunger strike.
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