In a damning revelation, a United Nations report has shed light on Iran’s crackdown on peaceful protests, citing instances of “crimes against humanity” and widespread discrimination against women and girls. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) highlighted various violations, including extrajudicial killings, use of disproportionate force, arbitrary detentions, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, and gender persecution.
The report, based on findings from the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran, established by the UN Human Rights Council, focused on the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests triggered by the death of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Jina Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Amini, arrested for not adhering to Iran’s mandatory hijab law, became a symbol for women advocating for increased rights since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The mission found that Amini’s “unlawful death” resulted from physical violence by the morality police, dedicated to enforcing strict dress codes. Despite international human rights law requiring a prompt and thorough investigation, the Iranian government allegedly obscured the truth and denied justice.
During the country-wide protests, the UN Office revealed that Iran utilized its entire security apparatus to suppress demonstrators. A shocking toll of at least 551 protesters, including 49 women and 68 children, is believed to have been killed by security forces. The report pointed to the use of “unnecessary and disproportionate force,” leading to “unlawful killing and injuries of protesters,” with a disturbing pattern of extensive eye injuries.
The UN Fact-Finding Mission uncovered evidence that top-level state authorities in Iran not only endorsed but encouraged and sanctioned these human rights violations. The government’s obstruction of repatriation efforts and a justice system lacking independence, transparency, and accountability further exacerbated the crisis.
Sara Hossain, Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission, called on Iran’s government to cease repressing peaceful protesters, especially women and girls. She emphasized that the acts documented in the report constitute a “widespread and systematic attack” against the civilian population in Iran, encompassing individuals demanding freedom, equality, dignity, and accountability.
Comments