Although ill and in terrible physical and psychological shape, 24 journalists imprisoned in Iran are being subjected to appalling conditions of detention and are being denied the medical care they need to survive. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the United Nations to do what is necessary to end this criminal behaviour, which is tantamount to state murder.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) wrote to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on 13 June – the first day of the UN Human Rights Council’s 50th session, which continued until 8 July – drawing her attention to the appalling conditions in which many journalists are detained in Iran.
These journalists are being denied medical care despite being ill and despite being badly affected physically and psychologically. RSF urges Michelle Bachelet and Javaid Rehman, the UN special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, to take action to end this criminal behaviour, which is tantamount to state murder.
The repressive methods used by the Iranian authorities with the aim of crushing imprisoned dissidents and critics in every way are completely unacceptable. The right of access to medical care is completely flouted, deliberately putting journalists’ lives in danger.
Antoine Bernard, Director of Advocacy and Assistance. RSF deplored that the deterioration in the conditions in which they are held is clearly a reprisal for their attempts to obtain respect for their most basic rights and to challenge those in charge of the Iranian judicial and prison system.
“During the UN Human Rights Council’s 50th session, we alerted the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to the very serious plight of these journalists. The Iranian authorities must be pressed to respect their international obligations and a clear call must be issued for the unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience in Iran”, he added.
RSF asserted that no journalist should be subjected to such suffering just for doing their job.
