The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran presented its initial report today, revealing that the Iranian Government’s violent suppression of peaceful protests and systemic discrimination against women and girls have resulted in severe human rights violations, amounting to crimes against humanity.
The “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, ignited by the death of Jina Mahsa Amini in September 2022, unfolded a grim scenario. A 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman, Amini, died in custody, allegedly due to the non-observance of Iran’s mandatory hijab laws. Instead of promptly investigating this unlawful death, the government actively obscured the truth, denying justice.
In response to Amini’s death, the government deployed the entire state security apparatus to quash protesters. Credible figures indicate that up to 551 protesters, including at least 49 women and 68 children, were killed by security forces, primarily using firearms. The Fact-Finding Mission uncovered cases of unnecessary and disproportionate force leading to unlawful killings, injuries, and a pattern of extensive eye injuries resulting in blindness.
The report outlined a disturbing pattern of arbitrary arrests during protests, affecting those who expressed their views through dance, slogans, honking, or social media posts. Many, including children as young as 10, were detained without information about their whereabouts. In detention, victims faced torture, rape, and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence, with women’s demands for equality being dismissed by security forces.
The government’s response included arbitrary executions, summary trials relying on confessions obtained under torture, and ongoing threats of capital punishment for those charged in connection with the protests. The report emphasized the regime’s repression of families, journalists, human rights defenders, and others expressing their views or seeking justice.
The Fact-Finding Mission criticized the lack of meaningful cooperation from Iranian authorities, their denial of access, and the absence of transparency regarding their investigations into human rights violations. In light of this, the Mission urged Member States to explore international accountability avenues and apply the principle of universal jurisdiction.
The report also called on the Iranian authorities to cease executions, release arbitrarily detained individuals, and end the repression of protesters and supporters of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. It highlighted the obligation of the Islamic Republic of Iran to uphold the rights of women and children, emphasizing the need for transformative reparations.
Despite repeated requests for information and access, the Iranian authorities have hindered the Mission’s efforts, raising concerns about the lack of transparency in their own investigations. In the absence of effective remedies and considering the historical impunity in Iran, the Mission encouraged Member States to consider universal jurisdiction for crimes under international law and provide protection to those fleeing persecution in connection with the protests.
The Human Rights Council mandated the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission in November 2022 to investigate human rights violations related to the protests in Iran. The report underscored the urgency of addressing the human rights crisis and called for immediate action to halt the ongoing repression and hold the perpetrators accountable.
For more information and media inquiries, contact Ahmad Azadi, Iran Fact-Finding Mission Communications Officer, at ahmad.azadi@un.org, or Todd Pitman, Media Adviser for the HRC’s Investigative Missions, at todd.pitman@un.org.