Open Letter to the UN Human Rights Council

Honorable President of the United Nations Human Rights Council

Your Excellency Jürg Lauber,

We hereby draw the Council’s attention to the grave violation of human rights in Iran. On March 15, 2025, The Islamic Republic of Iran subjected Mr. Mehdi Yarahi, an Iranian singer, to 74 lashes for performing a song critical of mandatory hijab.  This punishment was a clear instance of torture and a violation of human dignity.

From an international human rights perspective, this cruel punishment violates the obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran under the following international treaties:

1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): Article 5 explicitly prohibits torture and inhuman treatment.

2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966): Article 7 of this covenant, to which Iran is a party, prohibits all forms of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading punishment.

3. Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984): Although Iran has not ratified this convention, its principles are recognized in customary international law and prohibit acts such as flogging.

Considering the above, the flogging of Mr. Yarahi constitutes a flagrant violation of his human rights. Accordingly, the United Republicans of Iran requests the United Nations Human Rights Council to:

1. Urgently address this blatant violation of human rights and demand an explanation from the authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

2. Investigate and report on the use of inhumane punishments, including flogging, in Iran.

3. Exert diplomatic and legal pressure on IRI to halt the issuance and execution of such sentences in the future.

We hope that this Council, as the international body responsible for overseeing human rights compliance, will take the necessary measures to prevent the continuation of this unlawful practice.

Respectfully,

Executive Political Committee of the Union of Republicans of Iran

March 7, 2025