{"id":1609,"date":"2025-12-17T13:56:00","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.human-rights-iran.org\/hri\/?p=1609"},"modified":"2025-12-17T13:56:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:56:02","slug":"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","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.human-rights-iran.org\/hri\/archives\/1609","title":{"rendered":"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"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Issued by:<\/strong>
Society for the Defense of Human Rights in Iran \u2013 Austria<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vienna \u2013 14 December 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To:<\/strong>
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Human Rights Council
United Nations Special Rapporteurs<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

1. Suspicious Death of Khosro Alikordi and State Responsibility<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cheart attack,\u201d available evidence, independent reports, and the widespread reaction of Iran\u2019s legal community seriously call this narrative into question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 80 Iranian lawyers<\/strong> have issued a formal statement demanding immediate transparency, an independent investigation, and unrestricted access of the family to the truth<\/strong>. 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In accordance with the international obligations of the Islamic Republic of Iran under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)<\/strong>, the State is obliged to protect the right to life<\/strong> and to conduct effective, impartial, independent, and transparent investigations<\/strong> in cases of suspicious death. Any failure or interference in the truth-seeking process constitutes a violation of the State\u2019s international obligations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Arrest of Human Rights Defenders at the Memorial Ceremony<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong>, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2023, Ms. Sepideh Gholian<\/strong>, and several other civil and human rights activists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/strong>, a violation of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly<\/strong>, and an infringement of the right to participate in cultural and social practices<\/strong>, as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights<\/strong> and international human rights treaties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Specific Demands<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accordingly, we call upon the competent bodies of the United Nations to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n