UN mission documents gross human rights violations during protests in Iran — Jerusalem Post
The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran concluded that Iranian authorities were responsible for gross human rights violations during the suppression of mass protests in January. The report cites violations of the rights to life, freedom from torture and ill-treatment, personal security, a fair trial, peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, and health, the Jerusalem Post reports.
The mission said Tehran did not provide it with unrestricted access to the country and did not properly cooperate with the investigation. Of 47 requests for information, the Iranian side responded to 12, but did not provide the requested data in any of its responses. Despite this, experts collected testimonies from 73 people, satellite images, videos and photographs, as well as data from human rights organizations, forensic and military experts.
Communication restrictions and the scale of violence
According to the mission, internet shutdowns on January 8 and 9 deprived civilians of the ability to contact loved ones, obtain information, and seek medical or emergency assistance. Medical workers reported that they were unable to coordinate treatment for the injured and stay in contact with colleagues. After network access was partially restored, it did not exceed 30% of the level before the shutdown, while access to some systems required prior authorization and user identification.
The mission found that the number of people injured during the suppression of the January protests was at least 3.5 times higher, and the number of those killed was 5.5 times higher, than during the repression of the 2022 “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests. Iranian authorities acknowledged the deaths of 3,038 people and injuries to 25,000 people, more than half of whom, they claim, required surgery. At the same time, the mission believes the actual death toll is significantly higher and that security forces were responsible for the violence.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Injuries to protesters and persecution of medical workers
The report states that security forces used tear gas and then fired at protesters with shotguns loaded with metal pellets, although they posed no immediate threat. Medical records and testimonies indicate injuries to the eyes, head, chest and upper body. Farabi Hospital in Tehran reported that more than 700 people sought assistance for eye injuries from January 8 until the morning of January 10; some of them partially or completely lost their sight.
The mission also verified videos showing people shooting at fleeing crowds from the roofs of police stations in Tehran and Karaj. According to eyewitnesses, automatic gunfire was heard during demonstrations in Tehran, Karaj, Mashhad and Abadan. According to an unnamed human rights organization that provided the mission with the names of those killed, at least 221 children died during the protests. At least three people were also sentenced to death on charges related to acts allegedly committed when they were minors.
Witnesses spoke of torture and ill-treatment during detention. Medical workers, injured protesters and other sources reported that security forces monitored hospitals to locate and detain people they considered demonstrators. In some cases, medical workers who provided them with assistance were also detained.
