Amnesty International Annual Report 2012
(January-December 2011)
Iran
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Islamic Republic of Iran
Head of state: Ayatollah Sayed ‘Ali Khamenei (Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran)
Head of government: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (President)
Death penalty: retentionist
Population: 74.8 million
Life expectancy: 73 years
Under-5 mortality: 30.9 per 1,000
Adult literacy: 85 per cent
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Freedom of expression, association and assembly were severely restricted. Political dissidents, women’s and minority rights activists and other human rights defenders were arbitrarily arrested, detained incommunicado, imprisoned after unfair trials and banned from travelling abroad. Torture and other ill-treatment were common and committed with impunity. Women as well as religious and ethnic minorities faced discrimination in law and in practice. At least 360 people were executed; the true total was believed to be much higher. Among them were at least three juvenile offenders. Judicial floggings and amputations were carried out.
