Extension of the mission of Mai Sato and the International Fact-Finding Commission on Iran
Extension of the mission of Mai Sato and the International Fact-Finding Commission on Iran
In recent months, many human rights organizations have submitted requests to the UN Human Rights Council to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Independent International Fact-Finding Commission on Iran. The UN Human Rights Council, by adopting a resolution on Thursday, April 3, extended the mandate of Mai Sato, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and the Independent International Fact-Finding Commission on Iran.
The final reports submitted to the UN Human Rights Council by the Fact-Finding Committee were compiled on the basis of 38,000 judicial and medical documents and over 285 interviews in 252 pages. The report emphasized the widespread and severe human rights violations committed by the Islamic Republic during the suppression of nationwide protests in 1401, which intensified with the killing of Mahsa Amini, and assessed some of the actions of the Islamic Republic as crimes against humanity.
Sarah Hussein, the head of the fact-finding committee, which was formed for two years from 1401 to focus on the protests of women, life, and freedom, accused the Iranian government in her latest report of creating a climate of fear and systematic impunity.
The UN Human Rights Council, after reviewing reports and requests from human rights organizations and institutions, adopted the aforementioned resolution with 24 votes in favor, 8 against, and 15 abstentions. The previous time limits were also removed from these missions to provide more time and opportunity to investigate human rights violations in Iran.
Representatives from Spain, Mexico, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, and Brazil spoke in support of the resolution, but delegations from the Islamic Republic of Iran, describing it as discriminatory, and countries such as Indonesia, China, and Cuba opposed the resolution.
Ali Bahreini, Iran's permanent representative in Geneva, left the meeting after presenting the reports, describing the fact-finding committee as a fabrication of "global arrogance." The Iranian government, while rejecting international reports on widespread human rights violations in Iran and denying the testimonies of victims, has claimed that Iran has no political or conscientious prisoners.
The representative of Iceland, who presented the resolution, also emphasized: "Iranian officials may not agree with this resolution, but it is the Iranian people who want accountability. They want their voices to be heard."
