The Welle Association continuously sends urgent appeals to various UN figures and institutions throughout the year, in response to the human rights situation in Iran, in order to generate international pressure, particularly to stop executions and human rights violations. In April alone, the Welle Association issued two urgent appeals to the UN calling for immediate measures to halt the execution of detained human rights activists and protesters.
Statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Iran
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the brutal crackdown by the ruling regime in Iran against dissidents and detained protesters, particularly under the pretext of “national security.”
He stated:
“I am appalled that – in addition to the already severe impacts of the conflict – the rights of the Iranian people continue to be curtailed in a harsh and brutal manner by the authorities.”
According to the UN Human Rights Office, since the end of February 2026, at least 21 people have been executed and more than 4,000 individuals have been arrested. Those executed included individuals connected to the January 2026 protests, suspected members of opposition groups, and individuals accused of espionage.
Volker Türk further stated:
“In times of war, threats to human rights increase exponentially.”
However, he emphasized that even when invoking national security, fundamental rights must be protected at all times. This includes, in particular, protection against arbitrary detention, the right to a fair trial, due process guarantees, and protection against torture and ill-treatment. In this context, he especially criticized forced confessions, torture in detention, enforced disappearances, lack of access to lawyers, secret proceedings, and the intimidation of family members.
According to the UN, many prisoners have also been held in overcrowded prisons – without adequate medical care, without sufficient water and food, and in some cases completely cut off from the outside world.
Volker Türk also warned of increasing suppression of freedom of expression, massive restrictions on civic space, internet shutdowns, and the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities.
He stated:
“Even in times of armed conflict, human rights may only be restricted if it is strictly necessary, proportionate, and lawful.”
He further said:
“Non-derogable rights – including protection from arbitrary detention and the right to a fair trial – must be absolutely respected at all times.”
The UN Human Rights Commissioner urgently called on the Iranian authorities to immediately stop all further executions, introduce a moratorium on the death penalty, ensure fair trials, and immediately release all those arbitrarily detained.
He also expressed particular concern regarding the situation of political prisoners, the plight of minors in detention, reports of deaths in prisons, and violence against demonstrators. In this context, the UN further documented deaths under torture, ill-treatment in prisons, and lethal violence against prisoners during protests inside detention facilities.
English 
German 
French