At the November 8 session of the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sara Hossein, head of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, presented a new report detailing the widespread and systematic violations of human rights in the country. She stated that despite external attacks, the Islamic Republic of Iran continues to engage in repression, executions, and severe restrictions on civil space.

Hossein emphasized that victims of protests and other human rights violations in Iran have still received no justice or compensation, and she proposed the establishment of a special victims’ fund with the participation of families and civil society organizations.

She also called for humanitarian visas for at-risk Iranians and international prosecution of Iranian officials under the principle of universal jurisdiction.

Referring to the impact of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, Hossein said that the conflict has caused “widespread fear inside Iran” and led to intensified domestic repression.

In response to a question from the Swiss representative, she warned that Iran’s new espionage law expands the range of offenses punishable by death and will likely trigger “a new wave of executions.”

In conclusion, Hossein stated that while Iran is a victim of foreign military aggression, this fact “cannot be used as a justification for violating the rights of its own people.”

At the same session, Mai Sato, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, said that the Iranian people are victims on two fronts: “foreign military attacks and the domestic repression of their own government.”