The Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva, Amb. Vincenzo Grassi, took the floor today in the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Javaid Rehman, in the framework of the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council.
Italy condemned the brutal repression in Iran and the excessive use of force against protesters, including young persons. It called on Iranian Authorities to ensure freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, as well as to end all forms of violence, torture and ill-treatment. Italy then demanded the release of all persons arbitrarily detained, among whom human rights defenders, lawyers, and journalists, foreign and dual nationals, and mentioned the cases of Ahmadreza Djalali and Jamshid Sharmahd.
Furthermore, Italy called on Iran to ensure the respect for the human rights of all persons, also of those belonging to ethnic and religious minorities, to ensure accountability for human rights violations and to cooperate with the UN monitoring bodies, such as the Fact-Finding Mission and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran.
“Italy strongly condemns the use of death penalty against protesters and urges Iran to refrain from any future executions and to immediately introduce a moratorium on capital executions”, the Permanent Representative of Italy stated.
With reference to the outcomes of the report presented by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Italy highlighted that Jina Mahsa Amini’s death was the latest in a long series of violence and systematic discrimination against women and girls.
“We continue to call on Iran to end all forms of violence and discrimination, in law and practice, against women and girls”, the Permanent Representative of Italy concluded.
Read the full statement here.