UN Probe On Iran Requests Information About Protest Crackdown

The UN fact-finding mission on human rights abuses committed by Iranian security forces in their brutal crackdown on ongoing peaceful protests is calling on individuals, groups and organizations to submit information and documentation relevant to its mandate.

In November 2022, the Geneva-based Human Rights Council adopted a resolution establishing the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFMI) to “collect, consolidate and analyze” evidence of rights violations, “especially with respect to women and children,” linked to the months-long nationwide protests, and to “preserve evidence” with a view to future prosecution.

In a statement on March 1, the FFMI said that it is seeking “facts and circumstances” surrounding the allegations of human rights violations and the “gender dimension” of these alleged abuses.

The mission said it would also welcome information concerning the identification of those responsible and “recommendations on measures of prevention, protection, and reparation.”

The Islamic Republic has already said that it “will not engage in any cooperation, whatsoever,” with the FFMI.

Iran has been swept by widespread demonstrations demanding fundamental economic, social and political reforms since the September death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, in the custody of morality police.

Security forces have killed more than 520 people since the eruption of the demonstrations, including dozens of children and women, and illegally detained over 19,000, activists say.

Following unlawful detentions and biased trials, the judiciary has handed down stiff sentences, including the death penalty, to protesters. Four young men have been executed so far amid international condemnation.

In Resolution S-35/1 adopted in November, the Human Rights Council cites “alleged arbitrary arrests and detentions, sexual and gender-based violence, excessive use of force, torture and other inhumane treatment and enforced disappearances, as well as the deaths of hundreds of peaceful protesters and thousands of arrests.”

Other allegations included the “arbitrary arrest, detention and physical, psychological and sexual abuse of women and girls,” arbitrary arrest of children and raids on schools, and restrictions on communications affecting landline and mobile telephone usage.

The FFMI is requested to present an oral update of its work to the Human Rights Council this year and a comprehensive report on its findings by February 2024.

The three independent members of the mission are Sara Hossain of Bangladesh, Shaheen Sardar Ali of Pakistan and Viviana Krsticevic of Argentina.