Interview with Mr. Ali Arab
Q. What is the current condition of Human Rights in Iran?
A. In studying human rights issues in Iran there are two general themes that we should consider: First one is the systematic issues underpinned by laws and regulations which remain generally unchanged with occasional improvements or setbacks. The problems in the area of laws and regulations are fundamental and rooted in the constitution and the Islamic penal code with no prospects of change or improvements in sight.
The other one is the regime’s response to dissent. Since 1979, the Islamic Republic regime has used an iron fist approach to dissent. The regime’s response to dissent remains problematic; critics of the regime are harassed, imprisoned, tortured, and terrorized. Freedoms are under attack including freedom of speech, assembly, press, and religion, among others. Issues of right to a fair trial and proper due process, access to attorney, executions and related issues (including execution of child offenders, and performing public executions), torture, mistreatment of relatives of prisoners, access to health care for prisoners, among others remain concerning. Arbitrary detentions of Iranians (e.g., Iranian environmentalists), dual nationals (including Aras Amiri, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliff, and others), as well as foreign nationals (Kylie Moore-Gilbert) visiting Iran is a serious area of concern, and while there has been a few cases of prisoner swaps over the past few years (such Jason Rezaian, Nizar Zakka, and most recently Micheal White) the Islamic Republic seems to be using arbitrary detentions to further its diplomatic goals through state-sponsored hostage taking. This is an alarming and disturbing practice and sets a problematic precedent for the international affairs where hostage taking as a means for advancing diplomatic goals may become a norm.
One main area of concern remains the lack of accountability of the Islamic Republic as seen in reporting fatalities and casualties related to November 2019 protests, the Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752, and most recently related to reports of Covid-19 cases in Iran.
This is in no way an exhausting review of the current conditions of human rights in Iran as the list of atrocities of the Islamic Republic is unfortunately very long. You may find a comprehensive collection of the most recent reports on the condition of human rights in Iran through the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center.
Q. What can we as Iranians outside of our country who are concerned for our fellow Iranians do?
A. Perhaps the most basic and important things to do include raising awareness and lending our voices to supporting campaigns by human rights activists and organizations, and providing financial support to fund these efforts and organizations. Human rights organizations in general, and those that focus on human rights in Iran have very limited resources.
For those of us that live in democratic societies, there are many ways we can help to make a difference. For example, contact the offices of your elected officials at local and national level and bring issues regarding human rights in Iran to their attention, and demand them to take a position and act on that. This is a simple democratic process that individuals can take by making a phone call or writing a letter/email. It can also be a way to mobilize the Iranian community in diaspora.
On a related note, human rights organizations and activists are often targets of smear campaigns and attacks. These attacks and smear campaigns are almost always traced back to the regime and often use tactics to raise questions and doubt regarding the integrity of the activists and invest on divisive issues and conflicts among the Iranian community. It is critical for the Iranian community especially to be mindful of these smear campaigns which are designed to weaken the impact of human rights activists and organizations on Iran.
Finally, it is critical that we all remain hopeful in the process. Human rights victories are not easily achieved and don’t happen overnight.
Q. On 6 July 2018, Mr. Javaid Rehman was appointed as the third Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran since re-establishment of the mandate. Has he been allowed to visit Iran to monitor the human Rights Condition in Iran?
A. No, the Islamic Republic has not allowed Mr. Rehman to visit Iran. In general, the regime does not cooperate with the Special Rapporteur and categorically rejects this function.
Since 1984, and among the six U.N. Special Rapporteurs to Iran only Maurice Copithorne and Galindo Pohl visited Iran. Galindo Pohl was allowed to visit Iran three times between 1990 and 1992 (and after his last visit he was barred from visiting Iran). You can see Galindo Pohl’s reports here. Maurice Copithorne visited Iran only once in the beginning of his term in 1996 and was never allowed to go back to Iran after he published his first report which the regime was not happy to read. You may find his reports here.
Q. What role can the international community play in regards to Human Rights in Iran?
A. The international community should hold the Islamic Republic accountable for its ongoing violations of human rights in Iran. This is unfortunately, often ignored in diplomatic and business relations with Iran. The role of the Iranian community in diaspora including the opposition groups is critical to mount pressure on the international community. However, this has remained largely untapped due to lack of collaboration among opposition groups on human rights issues, and also lack of organization among the Iranian community to mobilize around these issues. On the contrary, the groups and individuals with focus on strengthening business and diplomatic relations with Iran often derail discussions around human rights issues and view these issues as being tangential to, or threatening, their goals.
International community has a responsibility to put pressure on Iran’s regime and there are many tools at their disposal including posing Magnitsky sanctions, among others.
Ali Arab is an Associate Professor of Statistics in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics of Georgetown University. His methodological research is in spatio-temporal and spatial statistics, and hierarchical Bayesian modeling. He is interested in applications of statistics in environment and climate change, ecology, epidemiology of infectious and rare diseases, science and human rights. He also works on applications of statistics in business and financial applications including forecasting, and audit sampling.
Ali serves as the American Statistical Association representative to the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Human Rights Coalition. Ali is a member of the Board of Directors of Amnesty International USA (He has served in this role since 2016). Ali is also one of the founding members of the Alliance Against State Hostage Taking which is an alliance of former hostages and families of current hostages focused on raising awareness and campaigning against arbitrary detentions and state sponsored hostage taking.
