Iranian authorities have executed hundreds of Iranians and sentenced tens of thousands of others to jail and lashes during the past year, the Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported in its annual report for 2020, released on December 29. HRANA says 236 Iranians − including 205 men, one woman and two minors whose identities had been established ­− have been executed during the year - 72 percent in prison and 28 percent in public.

Suppression of Ethnic Minorities

HRANA compiled media accounts to conclude that the government has sentenced Iranian citizens including students, women and ethnic minorities to over 22,271 months in jail. Two hundred and eighty-six members of various ethnic minorities were arrested in Iran in 2020, 39 of whom were handed jail sentences totaling 1,721 months. The authorities also summoned 88 other ethnic rights activists to courts and security organizations.

Violation of Religious Freedom

Iran has systematically violated religious freedoms by arresting 77 people from religious minorities, including 45 Baha’is. Forty-nine followers of various faiths have been barred from business activities, 22 barred from education, while 126 were summoned by security and judicial organizations.

The report adds that Tehran Municipality has demolished an Adventist church in Tehran. Most of those harassed were Baha’is, followed by Sunni Muslims, Christians, Dervishes including the Ahl-e Haq Sufi order, and Jews.

Freedom of Speech Violation

There has been a rise in the number of arrests involving violations of freedom of speech with 928 citizens arrested, while 287 others were summoned to court over banned publications. Eight media outlets were banned and others fined for their reporting. In total, according to the report, Iranian security forces arrested 1,426 citizens for their political and civil-rights activities during 2020.

Labor, Student Activists

HRANA’s annual report says 47 labor activists were arrested in 2020, receiving total sentences of 554 months in jail. Thirty workers were sentenced to 183 months in jail and 3,108 lashes for taking part in protests.

Arrests of Iranian workers rose 56 percent in 2020 from the previous year, while the number of arrested students rose 94 percent. There was a 51 percent rise in arrests of teachers, with 29 arrests and four convictions.

Women, Children’s Rights

HRANA reported at least 572 cases of harassment of women and children, including sexual abuse, in 2020, adding that at least 13 people lost their lives in ‘honor killings.’ Six women set themselves on fire and four men sprayed acid on women during 2020, with a women’s rights activist reportedly summoned to court in connection with these cases.

According to HRANA, the Iranian government conceals reports about child abuse. Nevertheless, reports that have surfaced indicate there were 2,205 cases of child abuse, nine counts of rape and nine counts of child murder during the year.

Ninety-four cases of suicide among children were reported in 2020. The HRANA report says over 1 million Iranian children are deprived of education. 

Violation of the Right to Education

The HRANA annual report says six Iranian students were arrested in 2020 and one sentenced to 60 months in jail. Twenty-two students were barred from continuing their education because of their religious background, the report said.

Violence by the Military

The report says that 74 Iranians were shot dead by the country’s military forces. These include trans-border backpack carriers and five fuel smugglers.

As many as 130 others were shot but survived with various injuries. One hundred of these were were smugglers in Kurdistan Province.

Invasion of Privacy

At least 209 Iranians were arrested for taking part in private parties, HRANA reported based on eight official reports. Police broke into homes and arrested people playing music, drinking alcohol, or associating with members of the opposite sex.