Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, PEN America, and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights have filed a petition and urgent action request with the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) over the unlawful imprisonment of Iranian human rights defender Reza Khandan.
Mr. Khandan, a 60-year-old activist and husband of internationally renowned lawyer and former political prisoner Nasrin Sotoudeh, has been arbitrarily detained since December 14, 2024, in reprisal for his peaceful human rights work and outspoken opposition to Iran’s compulsory hijab laws.
The petition, filed last month, details multiple violations of international law, including the rights to liberty, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and due process.
It warns of the imminent risk to Mr. Khandan’s life and health as he remains imprisoned in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison, which was bombed by Israeli forces in June 2025, killing at least 71 people. After being transferred under inhumane conditions to Fashafoyeh prison, he was returned to the still-damaged Evin facility, where conditions remain dire and unsafe.
“Reza Khandan is being punished simply for his peaceful advocacy and his unwavering commitment to women’s rights in Iran,” said Kerry Kennedy, President of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. “His arbitrary detention is not only unlawful but life-threatening. The international community must act with urgency.”
“Mr. Khandan’s case underscores the Iranian authorities’ escalating campaign of repression against writers, activists, and all those who dare to challenge compulsory hijab laws,” said Karin Deutsch Karlekar, Director of Writers at Risk at PEN America. “His continued imprisonment sends a chilling message to all human rights defenders and prominent voices of conscience in Iran.”
“By targeting Mr. Khandan, the Iranian government is sending a message of fear and silencing dissent,” added Yonah Diamond, Senior Legal Counsel at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights. “This is exactly the type of case the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention was established to address.”
The petition calls on the UNWGAD to:
- Consider Mr. Khandan’s case under its Urgent Action Procedure;
- Issue an opinion declaring his detention arbitrary;
- Demand his immediate and unconditional release; and
- Urge accountability and compensation for the grave violations he has suffered.
Iran: Rights Groups Petition UN for Prominent Rights Defender Reza Khandan
