The Iranian Government is intensifying its crackdown on citizens’ rights, as detailed in a recent United Nations Human Rights Council report. This investigation highlights ongoing grievous violations linked to protests triggered by the tragic death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022 after her arrest by the “morality police” for allegedly not adhering to hijab regulations.
The report, delivered by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, reveals that Iranian authorities committed substantial human rights abuses, including acts considered crimes against humanity. Chair Sara Hossain shared disturbing testimonies of severe physical and psychological torture aimed at victims, some as young as seven, shedding light on the alarming targeting of minors.
Furthermore, since April 2024, women opposing mandatory hijab laws face escalating criminal prosecutions under the “Noor plan,” with harsh penalties including fines and prison sentences. The mission stressed the ongoing suffering of women human rights defenders, many of whom now face the death penalty for their peaceful advocacy.
In Geneva, Ms. Hossain noted that ethnic and religious minorities were particularly victimised during the protests, experiencing some of the worst abuses in protest hubs throughout these populations. Witnesses reported chilling accounts of individuals, including children, being taken captive and subjected to psychological torment.
The report emphasises the role of technology in state repression, highlighting a surge in online surveillance and the implementation of vigilantism. President Masoud Pezeshkian’s assurances to relax hijab enforcement have proven misleading, with investigators detailing how state-sponsored applications, such as “Nazer,” facilitate complaints about those not wearing the hijab, allowing citizens to act as enforcers.
The investigation also identifies a grim toll from the protests, with ten executed men and many others facing imminent execution, raising alarms about their trials’ integrity marred by torture and due process failures. The full findings will be presented to Human Rights Council members, underscoring the urgent need for awareness and action regarding these violations.
The Independent Mission, established by the Human Rights Council in November 2022, aims to comprehensively investigate human rights abuses in Iran, focusing particularly on the impacts on women and children amidst ongoing unrest.
The UN Human Rights Council’s latest report reveals the Iranian Government’s intensified repression of civil rights post-Mahsa Amini’s death, spotlighting crimes against humanity targeted at civilians, including children and women. With heightened surveillance and punitive measures enforced through technology, the report raises alarming concerns over human rights violations, particularly for ethnic and religious minorities and women activists, amidst severe penalties for dissent.
In conclusion, the report from the UN Human Rights Council spotlights the severe and systematic repression of rights in Iran following the 2022 protests. Testimonies reveal a disturbing climate of fear, particularly for women and children, as the state employs technology as a tool for surveillance and unjust punishment. The highlighted ongoing violations, ranging from psychological torture to risk of execution, underscore the urgent need for international attention and action against Iran’s authority abuses.
Original Source: news.un.org
