[
A UN fact-finding mission has concluded that Tehran's violent crackdown on peaceable protests and discrimination in opposition to girls and ladies have constituted critical rights violations, a lot of which quantity to crimes in opposition to humanity.
In September 2022, widespread demonstrations broke out in Iran following the loss of life of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd who was arrested for violating strict gown guidelines for ladies.
Anger over his loss of life rapidly escalated into weeks of forbidden protests in an open problem to Iran's system of presidency led by Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
In November 2022, the UN Human Rights Council launched a high-level investigation into the lethal crackdown.
In its first report, the Unbiased Worldwide Truth-Discovering Mission on Iran stated Friday that lots of the violations highlighted “are crimes in opposition to humanity – specifically homicide, imprisonment, torture, rape and different types of sexual violence, torture, enforced “Disappearances and different inhumane acts” have been carried out.
It added that the denial of elementary rights and the fee of such crimes, dedicated with discriminatory intent, “leads the Mission to conclude {that a} crime in opposition to humanity of persecution on the idea of gender has been dedicated”.
Sara Hussein, who chaired the three-member assembly, stated, “These acts are a part of a widespread and systematic assault in opposition to the civilian inhabitants in Iran, particularly in opposition to girls, ladies, boys and males who’ve demanded freedom, equality, dignity and accountability.” Is it.” Goal.
“We urge the federal government to right away cease its repression of peaceable protesters, particularly girls and ladies.”
'Disguise the reality'
As a substitute of conducting a correct investigation into Amini's loss of life, Tehran “actively hid the reality”, the mission stated.
The mission stated the crackdown on protests led to the arrest of individuals “merely dancing” or honking automotive horns, whereas lots of of kids, some as younger as 10, have been additionally detained.
The Mission discovered that Iranian safety forces used pointless and disproportionate drive, leading to illegal killings and accidents to protesters who didn’t pose an imminent risk of loss of life or critical damage.
The mission stated dozens of individuals have been blinded and proof of extrajudicial killings was additionally discovered.
The mission discovered that Tehran had arbitrarily executed no less than 9 younger individuals from December 2022 to January 2024, whereas dozens remained susceptible to execution or loss of life in reference to the protests.
Credible information exhibits that no less than 551 protesters have been killed by safety forces, amongst them no less than 49 girls and 68 kids, the mission stated, including that a lot of the deaths have been brought on by firearms.
The report concluded, “Widespread and deeply rooted structural and institutional discrimination in opposition to girls and ladies … was each a set off and enabler of widespread critical human rights violations and crimes below worldwide legislation.”
“Given the seriousness of its findings, the Mission calls on the Iranian authorities to right away and directly cease all executions and all people arbitrarily arrested and detained within the context of protests or for non-compliance or advocacy in opposition to necessary hijab.” Urges to launch the situation.”
It says Iran ought to cease judicial harassment of protesters and their households, repeal legal guidelines that discriminate in opposition to girls, “notably on necessary hijab”, and get rid of the “oppressive system” of its enforcement. Wanted
The mission urged Tehran to supply “justice, reality and compensation” to victims of rights violations in relation to the protests.
It additionally says that given the dearth of efficient measures throughout the nation, international locations ought to search avenues of authorized accountability outdoors Iran and that different states also needs to present asylum and humanitarian visas to individuals fleeing persecution in Iran to guard their rights. ought to give.
Iranian officers refused to cooperate with the mission.
The report can be formally offered to the Human Rights Council on 15 March.
The discharge of the report is unlikely to vary the path of Iran's authorities, which has now fallen extra firmly into the arms of hardliners after final week's low-turnout vote put them again answerable for the nation's parliament.
Nevertheless, it additionally introduced extra worldwide stress on Tehran amid broader Western issues about Tehran's increasing nuclear program, Iran's arming of weapons to Russia in Moscow's struggle in opposition to Ukraine, and the continued harassment and imprisonment of activists together with Nobel Peace Prize winner Nargess Mohammadi. Has offered.