The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Mai Sato, published a post on the social media platform X on Friday, July 4, expressing concern about the potential “enforced disappearance” of several political prisoners in Evin Prison, including Ahmadreza Djalali, an Iranian-Swedish researcher.
Press release: Post-conflict situations must not be used as an opportunity to increase repression against ethnic and religious minorities or suppress dissent. I am alarmed by reports of executions, mass arrests, particularly against of minorities, notwithstanding the impact of…
— Mai Sato (@drmaisato.bsky.social) (@drmaisato) July 4, 2025
Mai Sato wrote in part of the post: “I continue to receive reports of deteriorating conditions faced by prisoners transferred from Evin Prison to the Great Tehran Penitentiary and to Qarchak Prison after Israeli attacks on its facilities. The whereabouts of some prisoners detained at Evin Prison remain unknown, raising fears of enforced disappearances.”
In light of numerous reports of the arrest of hundreds of individuals—including media activists, social media users, journalists, human rights defenders, and foreign nationals such as Afghan migrants, as well as ethnic and religious minorities—she objected to the ongoing wave of arrests on charges of “espionage for Israel.”
The UN Special Rapporteur also noted the escalation in executions of prisoners convicted of espionage for Israel or collaboration with hostile states.
“I am concerned by official statements announcing expedited trials on accusations of espionage, putting individuals at heightened risk of summary execution or punishment without adequate due process. Equally alarmed by Iran’s Parliament advancing a legislation that would classify intelligence or espionage activities carried out for ‘hostile governments’ as ‘corruption on earth’ – an offence punishable by death.”
Mai Sato issued a warning to Iran’s regime: “post-conflict situations must not be used as an opportunity to increase repression against ethnic and religious minorities or suppress dissent.”
At the end of her post, she called on the international community to prioritize support for Iranian civil society activists and to provide financial and technical assistance to “independent media and human rights organizations.”
