Fact-finding mission urges Iran to end crackdown on protesters

GENEVA (AA) – An independent fact-finding mission has called on Iranian authorities to end their crackdown on protesters.

The mission called on Tehran to end the wave of executions, mass arrests, and detentions. The mission had been mandated by the U.N. Human Rights Council to prepare a report on Iran.

Protests had erupted in Iran in September 2022 after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was arrested by the country’s morality police. She subsequently died in custody.

Sara Hossain, who led the mission, said the domestic investigation into Amini’s death had not met norms and standards.

The mission said that no official data on those arrested, detained, charged, or convicted in connection with the protests is publicly available.

“But reports continue to emerge of arrests and detentions of protesters, including women and girls refusing to comply with the country’s forced veiling law, and of harassment of their family members,” it added.

Viviana Krsticevic, a member of the mission, expressed concern about the detention of human rights defenders and lawyers who defended the protesters.

She said at least 17 journalists were detained.

They include Nilufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, who first reported on Amini’s death in custody.

The fact-finding mission said at least 26 people had been sentenced to death in connection with the protests.

Dozens more have been indicted or face crimes punishable by death. At least seven men have already been executed.

The mission said it has sent seven letters to the Iranian government requesting permission to visit the country. The letters have so far gone unanswered.