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Iran One is in “absolute human rights crisis” as authorities shut it down anti regime dissidents, according to Chief Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Turki called for “independent, fair and transparent investigative processes” into human rights violations in Iran during a special session of the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday.
The wave of anti-government protests triggered by the death of the Islamic Republic has engulfed Mahsa AminiA 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman was detained by the ethics police in September for allegedly not wearing the hijab properly.
The authorities have since issued a fatal crack on the protesters, with reports from forced captive And physical torture being used to target the country’s Kurdish minority group. one in Recent CNN InvestigationSecret testimony revealed that sexual violence against protesters, including boys, occurred in Iran’s detention centers since the unrest began.
Turks told the 47-member Council of States in Geneva that security forces have reportedly responded to the protests by using deadly force against unarmed protesters and bystanders who presented “no threat”.
According to Turki, more than 14,000 people, including children, have been arrested in connection with the protests. At least 21 of them are currently facing the death penalty and six have already been sentenced to death, he said.
Turks said the unprecedented national uprising has taken over more than 150 cities and 140 universities in all 31 provinces of Iran.
“We have received reports that injured protesters are afraid to go to the hospital for the risk of being arrested by security forces,” he said.
“I am concerned by reports that even children suspected of participating in protests are being arrested at school, hundreds of university students have been called in for questioning, threatened or prevented from entering university campuses has been suspended.
“I appeal to those in power in Iran to respect fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly.
“No society can be as quiet or fossilized as it can stand at the same time. It is futile to attempt to do so against the will of its people.”
Tehran strongly condemned the “horrific and humiliating” emergency meeting by the UN Human Rights Council, just as Iran’s foreign ministry announced a national committee to investigate deaths linked to the protest movement.
Iran’s vice president for women and family affairs, Khadizeh Karimi, who represented Iran at Thursday’s session, condemned Germany’s “politically motivated” decision to convene the session, calling it “a well-planned move for ulterior motives.” ,
Countries such as Germany, Britain and France, Karimi said, “lack the moral credibility to preach to others on human rights and request a special session on Iran.”
He also defended the conduct of Iranian security forces and said that the government had taken “necessary measures” following the “unfortunate” death of Amini in the custody of the morality police.
The violent response of Iran’s security forces towards the protesters has shaken diplomatic relations between Tehran and Western leaders.
The White House on Wednesday implemented its latest round of sanctions On the three officers in Iran’s Kurdish region, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was “deeply concerned that Iranian officials are reportedly escalating violence against protesters.”
During an interview with Indian broadcaster NDTV on Thursday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said that foreign powers were interfering in Iranian internal affairs and creating “misleading narratives”.