UN rights council moves to investigate Iran’s protest crackdown

‘Truth-finding mission’ will probe alleged human rights abuses in Iran, with specific concentrate on ladies and youngsters.

The United Nations Human Rights Council has voted to ascertain a fact-finding mission to research potential abuses in Iran’s crackdown on anti-government demonstrations, with a selected concentrate on ladies and youngsters.

Thunderous applause broke out because the 47-member council handed the decision on Thursday, with 25 nations voting in favour and 16 abstaining. Six nations – Armenia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Pakistan and Venezuela – voted towards the measure.

“The folks of Iran, from all walks of life throughout ethnicities, throughout ages, are demanding change,” stated UN human rights chief Volker Turk, urging Iran to finish its “disproportionate” use of power towards the protesters.

“I name on the authorities instantly to cease utilizing violence and harassment towards peaceable protesters and to launch all these arrested for peacefully protesting, in addition to … a moratorium on the loss of life penalty,” he stated.

The decision is the newest transfer by the worldwide neighborhood to stress Iran over alleged abuses linked to the protests, which broke out in September after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died after being arrested by the “morality police” for violating the nation’s strict gown code.

Demonstrations have since unfold throughout the nation, prompting a harsh response from the Iranian authorities.

Turk stated greater than 300 folks had been killed since Amini’s loss of life, whereas 14,000 had been arrested, together with youngsters. He added that Tehran had not responded to his request to go to the nation.

In an announcement asserting new sanctions towards Iranian safety officers earlier this week, the US stated the crackdown has been “significantly extreme” in areas of the nation with massive Kurdish populations.

Iran has given no loss of life toll for the protesters.

Thursday’s vote drew reward from a number of nations, together with the US, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying it confirmed that the highest UN rights physique “recognises the gravity of the state of affairs in Iran”.

“The very fact-finding mission established right now will assist make sure that these engaged within the ongoing violent suppression of Iranian individuals are recognized and their actions documented,” Blinken stated in an announcement.

Rights teams additionally celebrated the decision, with Amnesty Worldwide describing it as “historic”, whereas Human Rights Watch stated it was “a welcome step in direction of accountability”.

However it was condemned by Iran’s consultant on the assembly in Geneva, Khadijeh Karimi, who referred to as it “politically motivated”.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets that the Human Rights Council is abused as soon as once more by some smug states to antagonise a sovereign UN member state that’s absolutely dedicated to its obligation to advertise and shield human rights,” stated Karimi, Iran’s deputy of the vice chairman for ladies and household affairs.

She additionally accused Western nations of ignoring human rights abuses in Yemen and the occupied Palestinian territories.

“Decreasing the frequent explanation for human rights to a device for political functions of particular teams of Western nations is appalling and disgraceful,” she added.

The decision, put ahead by Germany and Iceland, calls for that Tehran cooperate with the UN Human Rights Council’s particular rapporteur on Iran, together with by granting entry to areas inside Iranian territory, corresponding to locations of detention.

The crew could be anticipated to report again to the council in mid-2023.

German International Minister Annalena Baerbock referred to as on all nations to again the unbiased probe to make sure “these accountable might be held to account”.

“If we don’t gather the proof right now … justice won’t ever come to the victims,” Baerbock stated.