Amnesty International - Human rights commitments not matched by reality

The recent hunger strike in Tehran's Evin prison and the unabated wave of arrests and temporary detention of students, journalists and workers are some of the signs of a worsening human rights situation in Iran. These have renewed international concern over the situation in the Islamic Republic.

The international community accepted at face value statements made by judicial officials throughout 2003 that the penalty of stoning had been suspended as a result of a "moratorium". Yet, to widespread dismay, the judiciary initiated an amendment to existing laws detailing how to carry out a stoning and crucifixion in November 2003.
International human rights organizations, along with many states, fear that such contradictory behaviour undermines Iran's commitment to international human rights law.
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