The UN Human Rights Council’s Fact-Finding Mission highlights serious human rights abuses by the Iranian government during protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. The report reveals extensive repression, particularly against women and children, with a focus on the use of technology for surveillance and targeting minorities. The investigation underscores the potential for these violations to amount to crimes against humanity.
The Iranian Government has intensified its efforts to suppress civilian rights, leading to increased scrutiny from the UN Human Rights Council. An Independent International Fact-Finding Mission reported significant human rights abuses linked to the widespread protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody in September 2022. Amini, a Kurdish Iranian, was apprehended by the morality police for allegedly violating hijab regulations.
The report describes severe abuses, including cases that may constitute crimes against humanity. “In repressing the 2022 nationwide protests, State authorities in Iran committed gross human rights violations,” stated Sara Hossain, Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission. These violations include accounts of torture against children as young as seven, highlighting the systematic nature of oppression.
Since April 2024, criminal prosecution against women defying hijab laws has escalated under the “Noor plan.” The Mission emphasized that women human rights defenders are subjected to harsh penalties, including fines and imprisonment, for peaceful civil rights activities. Additionally, ethnic and religious minorities have faced targeted suppression in protest areas.
The report details the use of online surveillance as a tool for state repression. Investigators noted that the government has implemented tech-driven initiatives to enforce hijab laws, often contradicting earlier commitments by President Masoud Pezeshkian. “Surveillance online was a critical tool for State repression,” noted Shaheen Sardar Ali, an investigator.
The authorities have used invasive applications like “Nazer,” allowing civilians to report perceived hijab violations anonymously. This technology, according to the Fact-Finding Mission, has complicated the situation by fostering vigilantism. As of now, 10 men have been executed due to the protests, with several more at risk, all amidst reports of due process violations.
The UN Human Rights Council’s Independent Mission, established in November 2022, continues to gather evidence of these human rights violations with a specific focus on the experiences of women and children. The findings of their investigations will be presented to member states of the Council soon.
The Iranian Government’s ongoing repression of dissent has led to extensive human rights violations, particularly against women and children. The recent report from the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission highlights the severe measures employed by the State, including the use of technology for surveillance and the targeting of minorities. As the situation evolves, the international community continues to demand accountability for these violations.
Original Source: www.globalissues.org
