Media Advisory / Media Availability

For Immediate Release: October 17, 2011

Media Contacts:

Roberta Sklar, Press Secretary +1-917-704-6358
Jessica Stern, Director of Programs, +44 793 700 4203 (Geneva)

Human Rights Violations on the Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Homosexuality in the Islamic Republic of Iran reveals egregious HR violations

WHAT:

On the occasion of the United Nation's Human Rights Committee (HRC)'s review of Iran's compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) and Iranian Queer Organization (IRQO) issue a joint shadow report titled: Human Rights Violations on the Basis of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Homosexuality in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The report highlights widespread and systematic human rights violations experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Iran.

For full report go to www.IGLHRC.org »

WHO:

Spokespersons available for interview or comment

• Jessica Stern, IGLHRC, Director of Programs
• Hossein Alizadeh, IGLHRC, Middle East & North Africa, Program Coordinator
• Spokesperson for Iranian Queer Organization
• Spokesperson for Amnesty International

Media Availability: Spokespeople are available to the media upon request.

WHERE:

Geneva, Switzerland and by phone

WHEN:

October 18, 19

WHY:

Iran is one of the few countries in the world where homosexual intercourse is punishable by death. The Islamic Republic of Iran, a signatory to ICCPR, will be reviewed for the first time in 18 years, during the 103rd session of the UN Human Rights Committee. The government of Iran officially submitted its report to the HRC in October 2009. In April 2011, the HRC issued the List of Issues regarding the state report. The List of Issues specifically addressed the LGBT situation in Iran in Question 5. Iranian authorities refused to address the question, arguing in a written response in September 2011 that the LGBT issue is "beyond the mandate and subject matter of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights." IGLHRC and IRQO jointly prepared this report to shed light on human rights violations of LGBT people living in Iran and provide twenty-two recommendations addressing these egregious laws and practices.