UN Secretary-General tables human rights violations against LGBTI in Iran

6Rang, 1 October 2019: UN Secretary-General has confirmed the use of “reparative therapy” to “cure” persons of their same-sex attraction or gender non-conformity in his latest report on the situation of human rights in Iran to the General Assembly.

Referring to a 6Rang report, António Guterres pointed out that the only other choice put forward to the Iranian LGBT community is undergoing sex reassignment surgery or sterilization which are “below international clinical standards and often result in medical complications”. In addition, the report has highlighted that LGBT individuals are subjected to other malignant ‘aversion treatments’ such as the forced administration of hormones and medication.

UN Secretary-General has also raised concerns “that Iranian law continues to discriminate against and punish lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals.”

The Islamic Republic is one of eight countries that imposes the death penalty for consensual same-sex conduct. Other LGBT expressions such as what it so-called ‘cross-dressing’ are punished by severe and inhuman punishments including the death penalty and flogging.

The highest UN authority has urged the Islamic Republic of Iran to abolish the mandatory death penalty and to introduce a moratorium on its use, and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and to adopt legislation that protects them.

United Nations human rights mechanisms have addressed the continued discrimination, harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention, punishment and denial of rights of LGBT individuals, over the past few years.