22 Human Rights Organizations Call for Independent Investigation into November 2019 Crackdown
By sending a letter, 22 human rights defense organizations have called on governments worldwide to support an independent investigation into the suppression of November 2019 protests. These organizations have pointed to the Islamic Republic authorities’ lack of accountability and severe violations of human rights in Iran.
In an unprecedented move, 22 Iranian and international human rights organizations and institutions have sent a letter to world governments, calling for their support for independent and transparent investigations by the United Nations regarding the brutal suppression of protesters in Iran during November 2019 and beyond.
The letter was published on September 9 (September 19 in the Iranian calendar).
Activists organized within these 22 human rights organizations and institutions have called on world governments to support and back the establishment of an independent investigation committee regarding severe violations of human rights in Iran during the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
The letter from these 22 human rights organizations and institutions is published one week after Amnesty International’s statement. This organization, which is also a signatory to this letter, called on September 2 (September 12 in the Iranian calendar) for an independent investigation under UN supervision regarding severe violations of human rights in Iran in connection with the unrest and protests of November 2019 and beyond.
Amnesty International’s statement refers to the arrest of more than seven thousand people, including women and children, during the November 2019 protests.
Amnesty International, in this statement, has conducted independent investigations into the suppression of November 2019 protests and stated that these investigations demonstrate the continuation of severe human rights violations by Iranian government officials.
In addition to Amnesty International, the letter from 22 human rights organizations and institutions has been signed by Human Rights Watch, Center for Human Rights Defenders, International Federation for Human Rights, Justice for Iran, Human Rights Kurdistan, Third Sector, and the Abdorrahman Boroumand Foundation.
What is contained in the letter from the 22 organizations?
The main subject of the letter is a request to all countries for an investigation into the suppression of November 2019 protests. The letter states that Iranian law enforcement officials, using unlawful tools, have incapacitated hundreds of protesters and arrested thousands of people.
The letter refers to the report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the suppression of November 2019 protests.
The letter states that the Islamic Republic, after cutting off internet connections, proceeded to suppress protests comprehensively. By referring to Amnesty International’s report on the death of at least 300 people in these protests, the letter reports this figure.
In some reports, the death toll from the suppression of November 2019 protests has been stated to be approximately 1,500 people.
The letter from human rights organizations and institutions also states that 23 children (22 boys and one girl) between the ages of 12 and 17 are among the victims of this brutal suppression.
In the letter from the 22 human rights organizations and institutions, it is stated that a number of children who were approximately ten years old were also arrested by officials and transferred to unknown locations.
The human rights organizations and institutions that signed this letter have also referred to the issuance of death sentences for at least three protesters.
It is stated that protesters were severely tortured, and some of them were forced to “confess” under severe torture.
The signatories of this letter have called on world governments to, through their persistent and decisive approach, prevent the lack of accountability of the government and authorities of the Islamic Republic.
In this letter, reference is made, among other things, to the UN’s request from Islamic Republic officials regarding the investigation into the suppression of November 2019 protests, and it states that Islamic Republic officials have ignored the request of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and have continued severe violations of human rights in this country.
The letter ends with this message: “We ask your government to take advantage of the opportunity of the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council and act towards the formation of an independent investigation group.”
At the end of this letter, it is emphasized that only by delivering a clear and transparent message about holding the Iranian government accountable can one prevent the continuation of severe human rights violations and the repetition of such crimes in this country.
Source: DW
