Call for an Independent Investigation into the Suspicious Death of Human Rights Lawyer Khosro Alikordi and Condemnation of the Arrest of Human Rights Defenders in Iran

Issued by:
Society for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran – Austria

Vienna – 14 December 2025

To:
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Human Rights Council
United Nations Special Rapporteurs

We, the undersigned, as an independent human rights organization based in Vienna, express our deep concern and strong protest regarding the suspicious death of the late Khosro Alikordi, a prominent attorney and well-known human rights defender in Iran, as well as the arbitrary and violent arrest of human rights defenders during his memorial ceremony.

1. Suspicious Death of Khosro Alikordi and State Responsibility

Khosro Alikordi, a licensed attorney and defender of detainees from nationwide protests and families seeking justice, died on 6 December 2025 in his law office in Mashhad. Although the authorities have officially declared the cause of death to be a “heart attack,” available evidence, independent reports, and the widespread reaction of Iran’s legal community seriously call this narrative into question.

More than 80 Iranian lawyers have issued a formal statement demanding immediate transparency, an independent investigation, and unrestricted access of the family to the truth. This demand is of particular importance given the documented history of security pressure, arbitrary detention, threats, exile, and professional deprivation imposed on Mr. Alikordi. He had previously explicitly warned of threats to his life resulting from his professional activities and had sought support from international bodies.

In accordance with the international obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the State is obliged to protect the right to life and to conduct effective, impartial, independent, and transparent investigations in cases of suspicious death. Any failure or interference in the truth-seeking process constitutes a violation of the State’s international obligations.

2. Arrest of Human Rights Defenders at the Memorial Ceremony

Simultaneously with this incident, security forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran violently suppressed a peaceful gathering held on the seventh day of mourning for Khosro Alikordi in Mashhad and arbitrarily arrested several human rights defenders. Among those detained are Ms. Narges Mohammadi, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2023, Ms. Sepideh Gholian, and several other civil and human rights activists.

These arrests were carried out solely due to participation in a memorial ceremony and the peaceful exercise of fundamental rights. They constitute a clear case of arbitrary detention, a violation of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, and an infringement of the right to participate in cultural and social practices, as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international human rights treaties.

3. Specific Demands

Accordingly, we call upon the competent bodies of the United Nations to:

• Ensure an independent, impartial, and international investigation into the death of Khosro Alikordi, with the participation of independent forensic experts and the public release of its findings;
• Formally request that the Iranian authorities preserve and provide all relevant evidence in this case and guarantee the safety of the family, lawyers, and witnesses;
• Demand the immediate and unconditional release of all human rights defenders arrested in connection with the memorial ceremony;
• Take effective action by UN Special Rapporteurs within their mandates, including the issuance of Urgent Appeals to the Iranian government;
• Address this case within the mechanisms of the Human Rights Council as an example of a systematic pattern of repression and impunity for violations against human rights defenders in Iran.

4. Conclusion

The suspicious death of a human rights lawyer and the arrest of prominent human rights defenders during his memorial ceremony are not isolated incidents but constitute a warning sign of the grave state of the rule of law and the security of civil society actors in Iran. Silence or an inadequate response by the international community risks the continuation and repetition of such violations.

We urge international bodies to use all available mechanisms to act in the interest of truth, justice, and accountability.

Respectfully,

Dr. Behrooz Bayat
Spokesperson
Society for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran – Austria

Vienna – 14 December 2025