UN: Iran violations may amount to crimes against humanity

 

The authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran have committed violations in recent months that may amount to crimes against humanity, according to the United Nations (UN).

An UN-appointed expert told the Human Rights Council on Monday that the Iranian authorities committed crimes against humanity, citing the recent cases of murders, imprisonment of protesters, enforced disappearances, torture, rape, sexual violence against women and persecution.

While addressing the Geneva-based council, Javaid Rehman, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, said he had evidence that Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman, died in mid-September due to the result of beatings by the country’s controversial morality police.

The Special Rapporteur on Iran said that the scale and gravity of crimes committed by the Iranian officials after the death of Amini on September 16 “points to the possible commission of international crimes, notably the crimes against humanity.”

Rehman told the Human Rights Council that the Iranian women were targeted with shotgun fire to their faces, breasts and genitals. He further said that 71 children were killed in protests, sparked by the death of Amini in the custody of morality police. He further said in his speech, “Children released have described sexual abuses, threats of rape, floggings, administration of electric shocks and how their heads were maintained underwater, how they were suspended from their arms or from scarves wrapped around their necks.” Rehman also expressed frustration at the execution of four people in the country, who were allegedly arrested for participating in protests against the government.

Ali Bahreini, the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, told the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) that the allegations against Iran were imaginary and Iran was being targeted in the council.

The 47-member council held the meeting to talk about the human rights situation in Iran.