U.N. Rapporteur Alice Jill Edwards condemns Iran’s use of hostage-taking for diplomatic gain. Her report reveals 66 documented cases since 2010 involving vulnerable groups such as journalists and academics. Edwards urges stronger accountability measures and immediate action to combat this violation of human rights.
On March 6, 2025, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Jill Edwards, condemned Iran’s regime for utilizing hostage-taking as a strategy for diplomatic leverage. In her report to the Human Rights Council, she identified Iran among various countries that detain foreign and dual nationals based on fabricated or exaggerated claims to gain political advantages.
Edwards reported that since 2010, at least 66 instances of state hostage-taking have been recorded in Iran, placing journalists, academics, aid workers, and human rights defenders at high risk of detention. She emphasized that “Hostage-taking is cruelty – plain and simple – and almost always involves torture.”
Victims face severe mistreatment, including psychological pressure, physical abuse, and extended solitary confinement. Survivors have described experiences of starvation, mock executions, and sexual torture, which often lead to persistent psychological trauma. Edwards remarked, “Hostage-taking is an affront to human dignity,” revealing that detainees are intentionally subjected to inhumane conditions to extract concessions from governments.
The report ranks Iran among other nations such as China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia, the UAE, and Venezuela for politically motivated detentions. Edwards called for extensive measures such as universal jurisdiction, targeted sanctions, and investigations by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold those responsible accountable.
She urged timely action, stating, “We cannot allow hostage-taking to become an accepted tool of diplomacy or warfare. The time to act is now.” Additionally, she recommended the appointment of a Special Representative on hostage-taking by the UN Secretary-General and proposed governments designate senior liaison officers to keep families updated about their loved ones’ situations.
In summary, Alice Jill Edwards highlights a critical human rights issue regarding hostage-taking in Iran, as well as other nations. This practice, driven by political motivations, results in severe mistreatment and trauma for victims. Edwards calls for urgent action and accountability measures to prevent hostage-taking from gaining further acceptance in international relations.
Original Source: www.ncr-iran.org
