By Aaron Rhodes
Human rights issues are often overlooked in discussions about the conflict in Iran, but the rights of Iranian civil society are being severely violated, even by Iran’s low standards. Arbitrary arrests and executions are increasing as authorities aim to intimidate the population and discourage regime change, while regime forces face American and Israeli airstrikes. Human rights organizations report up to 550 executions this year, escalating with the war’s onset. However, this figure does not account for thousands of peaceful protesters killed, considered summary political executions. Heavily armed state militia enforce brutal control, threatening death for dissent.
While some American leaders may ignore Iran’s human rights approach if it abandons nuclear ambitions and hostility towards the U.S., European relations will require signs of improved human rights respect.
As independent Iranian commentators and experts have long stated, the U.S. and European states should consider Iran’s treatment of its people, particularly minorities, as an indicator of its reliability in any new agreements. A government that executes, persecutes, and suppresses its citizens’ rights is not a trustworthy international partner.
In this context, as Iran and the U.S. consider an agreement to end hostilities, Europe needs to act. Pushing for the release of unjustly detained Bahai religious minority members would be appropriate, as persecution against them has intensified, with some facing torture and potential execution.
The issue is urgent. Borna Naimi, 29, was arrested by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in Kerman on March 1 and taken to an undisclosed location. He was tortured with beatings, electrical shocks, mock executions, and threats to his family, resulting in a false confession.
Borna’s cousin Peyvand was arrested on January 8, also tortured and subjected to mock executions, leading to his forced confession of protest involvement. After over three months, he remains in Kerman Prison without trial.
No evidence justifies their arrests, and neither has been tried. However, unfair trials could occur anytime, likely leading to execution for being Baha’is.
During the conflict, Iran released some political prisoners but not Baha’is, who are Iran’s largest non-Muslim minority, often falsely accused of espionage for Israel. Many Baha’is have been executed after unfair trials, imprisoned, or tortured. None have taken up arms or subverted the regime, acts prohibited by their faith.
The persecution of Iranian Baha’is is a prominent case of religious discrimination, harming Iran’s reputation and drawing international criticism.
These arbitrary arrests, violating international norms, haven’t improved Iran’s security but strained diplomatic relations with Western governments. The detention of Baha’is adds to tensions with European states not involved in military actions against Iran, making the arrests illegal, wrong, and irrational for regime security.
Several European MPs have supported persecuted Baha’is. Given the importance of European relations to Iran, governments should leverage this to advocate for the release of Borna and Peyvand Naimi and others arbitrarily detained in Iran’s crackdown on minorities and civil society activists.
Based in Hamburg, Aaron Rhodes is a human rights advocate and writer. He served as Executive Director of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights and President of the Forum for Religious Freedom-Europe. He was also a founder and policy advisor of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran.
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