The UN Human Rights Council’s Independent Mission reports ongoing human rights violations in Iran, particularly following protests after Mahsa Amini’s death. The report alleges abuses against civilians, including children, enforced through technology and increased legal actions against women. It highlights the government’s aggressive repression tactics and calls for urgent accountability.
The Iranian Government’s ongoing repression of civilian rights, including those of children, has been condemned by investigators from the UN Human Rights Council. In a final report from the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, serious allegations of human rights violations were outlined, linked to widespread protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022.
Mahsa Amini, a member of the Iranian Kurdish community, was arrested for not adhering to hijab regulations enforced by the country’s morality police. Sara Hossain, the Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission, remarked that Iran’s state authorities committed severe human rights abuses during the 2022 protests, some of which constitute crimes against humanity. Testimonies revealed grave instances of torture and violations of fair trial rights affecting individuals as young as seven.
Since April 2024, there has been an increase in legal actions taken against women defying mandatory hijab rules through the introduction of the “Noor plan.” According to the Independent Mission, women human rights defenders face criminal repercussions, including heavy fines and potential death sentences for engaging in peaceful advocacy.
During discussions in Geneva, Hossain emphasized that ethnic and religious minorities have been disproportionately targeted amid the protests, with significant human rights violations recorded in protest-heavy regions. Eyewitness accounts detailed occurrences of individuals being threatened and tortured.
The Mission highlighted the use of technology by the Iranian Government to enforce compliance, including online surveillance and state-sponsored vigilantism. Shaheen Sardar Ali from the Mission noted, “Surveillance online was a critical tool for State repression,” underscoring the confiscation of SIM cards belonging to human rights advocates.
Particularly invasive is the “Nazer” mobile application, initiated by the government to enable citizens to report individuals not adhering to hijab mandates. The report indicated the execution of ten men related to the protests and ongoing threats to others concerning fair trial rights and coercive confessions.
The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission was commissioned by the Human Rights Council in November 2022 to conduct a thorough investigation into alleged human rights violations in Iran amidst the protests, with a focus on women and children. Its findings are scheduled to be shared with Human Rights Council member states in an upcoming session.
The report from the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran sheds light on alarming human rights violations orchestrated by the Iranian Government against civilians, notably following the protests sparked by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini. The findings illustrate a grim reality where state-sanctioned repression has escalated through both legal and technological means, disproportionately affecting women and ethnic minorities. The evidence presented underscores the urgent need for accountability and reform within Iran’s human rights framework.
Original Source: www.globalissues.org
