"Crime against humanity" has reached Iran and Khamenei is on the verge of international accountability

Mai Sato, while referring to crimes against humanity in Iran, declared an independent investigation and legal prosecution against Ali Khamenei necessary.

Mai Sato, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, emphasized the widespread and worrying dimensions of the repression of protesters and stated: "To answer the fundamental question of whether what happened in Iran constitutes a crime against humanity, the establishment of an independent and international fact-finding mission is inevitable." A mission that could pave the way for the prosecution of high-ranking officials, including Ali Khamenei.

While explaining the legal criteria for this weighty title, he emphasized that the mere extent of the violence is not enough and that proving intent and organization is also crucial. Mai Sato clarified in this interview: “A crime against humanity is a widespread and systematic violation of human rights against civilians, and this includes murder, torture, and arbitrary detention. There must also be an element of intent and intention. There have been many casualties, and I have seen many videos of security forces opening fire on unarmed civilians. But if we want to officially call what is happening a “crime against humanity,” and if we want to take international criminal law seriously, it is necessary to conduct an independent and thorough investigation into what really happened. The almost complete shutdown of the internet has made it increasingly difficult to independently verify the number of people killed by the regime.”

In another part of his remarks, the UN Special Rapporteur addressed the issue of the number of victims; a figure that remains controversial and ambiguous due to severe communication restrictions and government censorship. Referring to various sources, he stated his minimum estimate as follows: “I consider the minimum estimate to be more than five thousand people; this number has also been reported by relatively conservative organizations. Even in the past day or two, Iranian officials themselves have said that the number of deaths was about five thousand. So, in my opinion, this is the minimum figure. At the same time, I have also received reports that estimate the number of deaths as high as 20 thousand people.”

Sato went on to explain that a significant portion of this information came from informal but vital channels, including through doctors who, despite serious risks, have been sending data. He added: “The bulk of this information has come from brave doctors who, with access to Starlink, have been able to transmit information about the injured and the dead who have been transported to hospitals.”

While the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting last week on the targeting of protesters in Iran, disagreements among members prevented any serious action. After US President Donald Trump's comments that the United States might intervene, some council members emphasized diplomatic solutions and dialogue.

However, human rights organizations and non-governmental organizations believe that a more effective path lies not through the veto-ridden Security Council, but through the United Nations Human Rights Council, a body that can initiate formal investigations without the need for consensus from major powers.

In the same context, Mai Sato has also announced that the Human Rights Council could hold an emergency meeting and reactivate an independent fact-finding mission for Iran; a mission whose mission would be to examine the key question of whether the conditions are met to refer Ali Khamenei's case to the International Criminal Court.

The UN Special Rapporteur's statements indicate that the case of the suppression of protests in Iran has entered a new and decisive phase; a phase in which the term "crime against humanity" is no longer just a political or media slogan, but a legal concept with potential international consequences. The formation or non-formation of an independent fact-finding mission could define the line between immunity and accountability for the Iranian government and its leader.