Amnesty International: Islamic Republic Must End Unlawful Detentions
Amnesty International has called on the authorities of the Islamic Republic to respect the freedom of peaceful protests. Multiple reports show that the Iranian government uses weapons against unarmed protesters and tortures prisoners.
Amnesty International has called on the authorities of the Islamic Republic to respect the right of Iranian citizens to peaceful protest.
The human rights organization said on Wednesday (August 8) that reports indicate that Iranian government officials use live weapons against unarmed protesters, have unlawfully imprisoned hundreds of people, and mistreated them.
According to official reports from the Iranian government, at least 22 people have been killed since the December protests. Their only “crime” was to peacefully protest against poverty, inflation, repression, and corruption in Iran.
Philip Luther, director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa office, emphasized: “Government officials naturally have the right to defend themselves, but at the same time they have a duty to protect the security of citizens. However, by brutally suppressing protesting demonstrators, they are trampling on Iran’s legal obligations and international law.”
Amnesty International cited the specific case of Nader Afshahi as an example of the dire situation. According to the family of this civil activist who was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence in Karaj on August 2, he has been subjected to physical and psychological pressure.
According to Amnesty International, Iranian authorities should not only release all those arrested during peaceful protests, but should also bring to court and punish those responsible for violating people’s rights.
Increase in Arrests and Intensified Repression
According to Amnesty International, the Iranian government has intensified its repressive behavior against opponents.
Based on reports received by Amnesty International, in recent days when unrest occurred in some Iranian cities, more than a thousand people have been arrested and mistreated in prison.
According to human rights activists’ news agency, only following last December’s protest demonstrations, over 423 people were registered in Evin Prison alone.
It is reported that hundreds of people are being held in the “quarantine” section of Evin Prison in the worst conditions, while this ward has a capacity of only 180 people.
Source: DW
