In a statement issued on Wednesday, Türk said outrage is growing over reports that basic protections are being stripped from Iranian citizens while the conflict continues to deepen humanitarian and economic strain.
According to the UN human rights office, at least 21 people have been executed and more than 4 000 people arrested on national security-related charges since late February. Those executed reportedly include individuals linked to protests, alleged opposition members and people accused of espionage.
Türk stressed that war does not suspend fundamental protections, warning that threats to human rights increase “exponentially” during conflict. Türk said core guarantees, including protection against arbitrary detention and the right to a fair trial, must be upheld “absolutely, at all times”.
Türk called for an immediate halt to executions and urged authorities to establish a moratorium on capital punishment, ensure due process and fair trial guarantees, and release people arbitrarily detained. The UN human rights office warned that broad national security charges are placing many individuals, including children, at risk.
Reports of torture, coerced confessions and denial of legal representation have raised serious concerns about due process. Detainees are also reported to be held in harsh conditions, including overcrowding, shortages of basic supplies and limited access to medical care. The health of imprisoned Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi has been described as deteriorating, while other detainees have reportedly died in custody under circumstances suggesting possible torture.
Türk also raised alarm over a prolonged internet shutdown, reported to have lasted 61 days, describing the measure as one of the longest shutdowns recorded globally. Türk said the shutdown is cutting off access to vital information, silencing independent voices and causing serious social and economic harm, while worsening an already precarious humanitarian situation.
The wider regional toll remains severe. In Lebanon, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned on Wednesday that children continue to bear the brunt of instability and displacement, with children with disabilities facing heightened risk during crises. UNICEF said more than 38 000 people are receiving support through a national disability assistance programme, including 12 000 families and 17 500 children receiving urgent cash assistance.
UNICEF said children in Lebanon need stability and protection, not only pauses in hostilities.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
