The international community declared a state of emergency against widespread human rights violations in Iran.
Economic pressures, nationwide protests, and the violent response of security forces prompted the international community to declare a state of emergency against widespread human rights violations in Iran.
"The UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Mai Satom, called for urgent attention from the international community to the "unprecedented dimensions" of the human rights crisis in Iran at an emergency session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Severe economic pressures, she said, sparked nationwide protests that have quickly grown into a broad national movement involving men and women from across social and religious groups."
Sato stressed at the meeting that government security forces have used violent means against peaceful protesters and have demonstrated a resolute rejection of fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, assembly and even the right to life. He noted that issuing death sentences against protesters, even when not carried out, is a clear violation of international law and is aimed at “silencing dissent.”
According to aggregate data recorded by independent organizations, hundreds of rallies were held in more than 190 cities in Iran, and thousands of people were killed and tens of thousands arrested during the crackdown. These figures cannot be independently verified, given the internet blackout in Iran and severe information restrictions; but even official government figures show that thousands of people have died.
The report by Sato and other human rights organizations indicates that detainees are being held without access to lawyers or contact with their families, and some have been pressured and tortured into making forced confessions that are broadcast on state media, a move that human rights experts say is being taken to “weaken and dictate the official government narrative.”
There have also been reports of raids on hospitals and the arrest of injured protesters, an act that represents a complete violation of the principles of protecting civilians and patients.
Members of the European Parliament have passed an official resolution, strongly condemning the repression and mass killings of protesters in Iran and calling on the Council of Europe to designate the Islamic Republic's security institutions, including the Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Basij, as terrorist organizations.
The UN Human Rights Council also passed a resolution extending the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran for another year and the mandate of the International Fact-Finding Mission for another two years, a move aimed at facilitating the investigation and documentation of serious human rights violations.
The exact death toll in this widespread crackdown is still unclear, but estimates from independent organizations and human rights reporters indicate more than 20,000 deaths, including children and unarmed people. Some international sources have even warned that the real toll could be higher, although exact figures cannot be confirmed due to limited access to information.
International human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have also issued reports warning of efforts to conceal evidence of repression and completely shut down the internet to prevent the events from being revealed.
Mai Sato expressed deep concern about the current situation in Iran, saying: "The Iranian people have shown extraordinary courage in confronting power, and now the international community must respond with greater urgency and commitment to provide practical protection for human rights in Iran."
Sato has also requested direct access to Iran to conduct on-the-ground investigations into the human rights situation and report to the international community, a request that has not yet received a response from Iranian authorities.
