Turk warns of the worsening suppression of freedom of expression in the Middle East since the beginning of the conflict

Turk said in a statement issued on Wednesday: “We are witnessing a sharp shift towards securitization in engagement with civic space across the region, as governments impose severe restrictions on people exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.”.

Iran

The statement stated that estimates in Iran indicate that the number of people who have been arrested since the outbreak of the conflict has reached 2,345, on charges related to national security, including terrorism, opposition, alleged espionage, and “collaboration with the enemy.”

Many of those arbitrarily detained during the January protests and the ongoing conflict are being held in shocking conditions, facing rushed judicial procedures that regularly lack fair trial guarantees and threaten the death penalty.

Eight executions have already been reported, three of which were related to the protests, according to the Human Rights Office.

Turk said: “This is outrageous. As if the pain and suffering caused by war were not enough, some Iranians are being arbitrarily arrested, imprisoned, tried without fair trial guarantees, and in some cases later executed by their own government.”.

The statement also referred to the Iranian-wide Internet outage, which is entering its fifth week, which it described as one of the most comprehensive cases of communications outage ever recorded globally.

Occupied Palestinian Territory

The statement stated that in the occupied Palestinian territory, the Israeli authorities announced the detention of 200 Palestinians between February 28 and March 6.

Reasons for detention included posting on social media, suspicion of “incitement” and “glorifying the enemy.”

He added that Israeli security forces intensified raid campaigns targeting Palestinian gatherings throughout the West Bank, and further tightened restrictions on freedom of movement.

Bahrain

The statement said that in Bahrain, activist Mohammed Al-Mousawi died in detention on approximately March 27, amid serious allegations that he had been tortured.

He added that the Bahraini authorities announced the implementation of other scattered arrests – including foreign citizens – due to filming or sharing content on social media platforms, or on suspicion of expressing sympathy with the “enemy.”

In cases involving individuals accused of espionage, the Bahraini Public Prosecution demanded the death penalty against them.

Emirates and Qatar

According to a statement by the Human Rights Office, the authorities in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates announced the detention of 313 people and 109 people, respectively, for filming videos or sharing information, among other charges.

In the UAE, 35 people were referred to urgent trials, including individuals who circulated video footage showing the effects of air strikes and defensive interceptions. Reports indicate that among those detained are foreign nationals.

Kuwait and Jordan

The statement said that in Kuwait, a new decree was issued imposing prison sentences and heavy fines for the circulation of reports that seek to “undermine the prestige of the military institution” or undermine public confidence in it. One arrest was also reported in connection with this conflict.

In Jordan, at least four critics were reportedly arrested during the current wave of hostilities, including three members of the Jordanian Communist Party, two of whom remain in detention for unknown reasons.

“Everyone has the right to express critical opinions.”

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reminded all states of their obligation, under international human rights law, to respect and protect the right of individuals to freedom of expression.

He added: “Everyone has the right to express critical opinions, especially on matters of significant public concern, without fear of arbitrary arrest or punishment.”.

He stressed that detainees have the right to obtain legal advice, due process, and a fair trial, adding that “Pre-trial detention must be a measure of last resort, used only when necessary and proportionate to the situation. Individuals who have been arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and unconditionally.”.

Turk alerted that “The death penalty is inconsistent with the right to life and should never be imposed for conduct that is protected under international human rights law.”.

He pointed to attempts to limit media freedom, “Such as restrictions imposed by the Israeli military censorship authorities, and the US Federal Communications Commission’s threat to withdraw broadcast licenses for media coverage deemed critical of the war.”.

Turk said: “Full respect for the independence and freedom of the media becomes doubly important under these circumstances, as it is a fundamental foundation for holding governments accountable to public opinion. These rights must be exercised, not threatened.”.