Dear Ms. Mai Sato,

UN Special Rapporteur on the Islamic Republic of Iran

We are writing to you with deep concern regarding the recent arrest and detention of Ms. Narges Mohammadi, along with several other individuals, in Mashhad, Iran. This wave of arrests is particularly troubling as it has taken place in the context of public mourning following the death of Mr. Khosro Alikordy, a human rights lawyer, whose mysterious sudden death has deeply affected and is under question for many in the community.

Reports indicate that Ms. Mohammadi and Ms. Sepideh Gholian, along with others, were beaten harshly and detained simply for participating in mourning gathering or expressing grief and solidarity in connection with Mr. Alikordi’s death. The criminalization of mourning and peaceful expression of collective grief represents a serious violation of fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, assembly, and belief.

Ms. Mohammadi is a Nobel Peace Prize winner and well-known human rights defender whose peaceful activities have long focused on defending human dignity, justice, and fundamental freedoms. Her arrest, alongside others in Mashhad, appears to be part of a broader pattern of repression aimed at silencing civil society and intimidating those who engage in peaceful civic and humanitarian acts, including mourning the dead.

The death of Mr. Khosro Alikordi itself, and the authorities’ response to public mourning for him, raise serious concerns about accountability, transparency, and respect for human dignity of those authorities. The subsequent arrests only deepen fears of systematic violations of Iran’s obligations under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

We respectfully urge you, and the relevant United Nations mechanisms, to call on the Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Ms. Narges Mohammadi and all others detained for peacefully exercising their fundamental rights, including the right to mourn. We also ask that the United Nations to closely monitor the circumstances surrounding Mr. Alikordi’s death, the treatment of mourners, and the conditions of detention of those currently imprisoned.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent and grave matter, and for your continued commitment to the protection of human rights. Should you need further information on the subject, we would be only too eager to meet you live or on line at your convenience. 

Yours sincerely,

International Relations Work Group of “Hamgami” Coalition for Secular Democratic Republic in Iran

16 December 2025