22 human rights organizations call for independent investigation into November 2019 repression

In a letter, 22 human rights organizations called on governments around the world to support an independent investigation into the suppression of the November 2019 protests. These organizations have pointed to the lack of accountability of the Islamic Republic's authorities and the brutal violation of human rights in Iran.

In an unprecedented move, 22 Iranian and international human rights organizations and institutions sent a letter to governments around the world, calling on all these countries to support an independent and transparent UN investigation into the violent repression of protesters in Iran in November 2019 and thereafter.

This letter was published on September 9th.

Activists organized in these 22 human rights organizations and institutions have called on governments around the world to support the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry into the gross violations of human rights in Iran at the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The letter from these 22 human rights organizations and institutions comes a week after Amnesty International, a signatory to the letter, called on September 2 for an independent, UN-led investigation into the gross human rights violations in Iran in connection with the unrest and protests of November 2019 and beyond.

The Amnesty International statement mentioned the arrest of more than seven thousand people, including women and children, during the November 2019 protests.

In this announcement, Amnesty International discussed its independent investigation into the suppression of the November 2019 protests and wrote that this investigation indicates continued severe human rights violations by Iranian government officials.

The letter was signed by 22 human rights organizations and institutions, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the Center for Human Rights Defenders, the International Federation for Human Rights, Justice for Iran, Kurdistan Human Rights, Third Sphere, and the Abdolrahman Boroumand Foundation.

What is said in the organization's letter 22?

The main subject of the letter is a request to all countries to investigate the suppression of the November 2019 protests. The letter states that Iranian law enforcement officers have killed hundreds of protesters and arrested thousands by using illegal means.

The letter refers to the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the suppression of the November 2019 protests.

The letter states that the Islamic Republic has launched a widespread crackdown on protests after cutting off internet access. The letter refers to a report by Amnesty International that at least 300 people have been killed in these protests.

Some reports have stated that the number of victims of the suppression of the November 2019 protests is around 1,500.

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 violent repression.

The letter from 22 human rights organizations and institutions states that a number of children, who were about ten years old, were also arrested by officers and transferred to unknown locations.

The human rights organizations and institutions signing this letter also pointed to the issuance of death sentences for at least three of the protesters.

It has been said that the protesters were severely tortured, and some of them were forced to "confess" under severe torture.

The signatories of this letter have called on countries around the world to take a consistent and decisive approach to prevent the government and officials of the Islamic Republic from being held accountable.

The letter refers, among other things, to the UN's request to the Islamic Republic's officials regarding an investigation into the suppression of the November protests, and states that the Islamic Republic's officials have ignored the request of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and have continued to commit violent human rights violations in the country.

The letter ends with this message: “We urge your government to take advantage of the opportunity of the 45th session of the UN Human Rights Council to take action towards establishing an independent investigative group.”

At the end of the letter, it is stated that only by delivering a clear and transparent message about the Iranian government's obligation to be accountable can we prevent the continuation of gross human rights violations and the repetition of such crimes in this country.

Source: DW