Open Letter to: Ms. Mai Sato United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran 

Open Letter to: 
Ms. Mai Sato

United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran 

and to all awakened consciences around the world

The Left Party of Iran, with deep concern and a profound sense of responsibility toward the lives, dignity, and fundamental rights of the people of Iran, wishes to draw your attention to the extremely critical and alarming situation unfolding in Iran over the past two weeks.

Based on credible reports and field evidence, over the past twelve days, a large number of Iranian citizens have taken to the streets in various cities across the country to protest escalating poverty, uncontainable price increases, devastating inflation, and a profound economic and political deadlock. These protests represent a clear and explicit expression of the will of a people who are loudly declaring that they no longer want this corrupt and tyrannical regime and can no longer endure the continuation of such inhumane conditions.

The response of the Islamic Republic to these protests has not been to listen to the voices of the demonstrators, but rather to intensify overt and violent repression. During this period, the state’s machinery of repression has acted with increasing brutality and bloodshed, and numerous reports of killings, mass arrests, and deadly confrontations with protesters have reached us through our connections and other independent organizations.

For approximately the past day, the authorities have completely shut down the internet and even telephone lines in an effort to block the voices of the people of Iran from reaching the outside world. This action is a clear indication of preparations to escalate repression and to carry out a bloodbath away from the eyes of global public opinion.

We are deeply concerned for the lives and safety of the people of Iran and believe that, in the absence of adequate and decisive responses from democratic institutions worldwide, the Islamic Republic will act ever more recklessly in continuing and expanding its repression.

We therefore respectfully request that you, in your capacity as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran:

• Take every possible step to immediately release those arrested in recent protests and all political prisoners.

•  Urgently and publicly address and condemn the violent repression of protesters and the violations of the right to life, the right to peaceful assembly, and freedom of expression in Iran.

• Utilize the mechanisms and capacities available within your mandate to draw the attention of relevant United Nations bodies and to increase international pressure aimed at halting human rights violations in Iran.

Call on the Iranian government to end repression, killings, mass arrests, and the shutdown of communications, and to recognize the people’s rights to protest, to life, and to freedom of expression.

Political–Executive Committee of the Left Party of Iran
Friday, 9 January 2026