On 23 January 2026, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) delivered a statement during the 39th Special Session of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council on the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. The statement highlighted the Iranian government’s "extraordinarily harsh crackdown" on protesters, which included thousands of summary killings and arbitrary detentions, and called for the release of all those detained in connection with the protests. Read the statement below.
UN Human Rights Council - 39th Special Session
Oral statement on the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran
23 January 2026
Mr. Vice-President,
After just over three years, the Council is holding another special session on the human rights situation in Iran. This recurrence reflects the gravity of the authorities’ repression against the brave people of Iran, who continue to courageously demand the respect of their fundamental rights and to express their aspiration for democratic change.
Estimates of those killed and injured by the authorities in response to the most recent peaceful protests are difficult to verify due to the government’s imposition of a prolonged internet and communication blackout.
What is certain is that an extraordinarily harsh crackdown on the streets of Tehran and many other cities across the country occurred, with thousands of civilians summarily killed and many more arbitrarily detained in just a few days during the peak of the protests.
FIDH and LDDHI see the renewal of the mandates of the Special Rapporteur and the two-year extension of the Fact-Finding Mission as being essential to guarantee future accountability.
Members of the Council should demand the Iranian authorities stop terrorizing the civilian population and support the work of independent international accountability mechanisms.
We reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all people detained in connection with the protests, as well as all activists and human rights defenders, including Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi. We also urge the government to refrain from imposing or carrying out the death penalty, particularly against those charged in connection with the demonstrations.
Thank you.
