Nationwide repression in 1404 and clear crossing of the line of crimes against humanity

The nationwide repression of 1404 has placed the Islamic Republic in the position of the accused and established the pattern of "crimes against humanity" against citizens.

The human rights organization "He Ngao", relying on field data, verified documents, and information received from independent and reliable sources, announces that what the Islamic Republic of Iran has implemented during the nationwide protests of 1404 is not a one-time reaction, but a calculated, organized, and targeted pattern of repression that clearly complies with the definition of "crime against humanity" in customary international law and the Statute of the International Criminal Court.

Haenggau’s findings show that the Islamic Republic’s military, security, and judicial structures have acted in concert to crush civil protests with the maximum possible violence. The deliberate killing of civilian protesters, including children, the widespread and lethal use of weapons against the population, mass and arbitrary arrests, the setting up of field courts, and the overt militarization of the streets are all components of a single policy to create public fear and silence society.

According to multiple and overlapping reports, mass killings of protesters have occurred in various parts of Iran. Multiple reports indicate that more than 10,000 citizens have lost their lives across the country during the recent protests, a figure that has even been out of reach and estimates suggest that the death toll is even higher.

The organization's verification team is reviewing and confirming the identities of the victims on a daily basis, and so far, the identities of 80 of the deceased have been recorded and published on the organization's official platforms after final confirmation; a statistic that undoubtedly reflects only a very small part of the true dimensions of the disaster.

On a more horrifying level, documented evidence suggests that government forces have not even granted immunity to medical facilities. The siege and attacks on hospitals, including in Ilam and Tehran, are not only clear violations of international humanitarian law, but also constitute the deliberate denial of medical treatment to the wounded, conduct that is itself punishable as part of a “crime against humanity.”

At the same time, the Islamic Republic has effectively turned the country into an information blackout by completely cutting off the internet and imposing severe restrictions on telephone communications, which have been in place for the sixth consecutive day as of the publication of this report. This deliberate and repeated action reflects the government’s systematic effort to conceal the true extent of the massacre, prevent independent documentation, and evade international accountability.

It is important to emphasize that when a state consistently and openly commits widespread and targeted killings of civilians, the international community is obligated to invoke the principle of the “Responsibility to Protect” (R2P). In such circumstances, silence, neutral statements, or expressions of deep concern are not only inadequate, but also constitute indirect complicity in the crime.

He Ngao also states in his report that relying solely on diplomatic and political pressure has effectively lost its deterrent function. The international community must seriously put all legitimate means foreseen in international law, including mandatory coercive measures under the UN Charter, on the agenda; measures that aim not at political intervention, but at the immediate and effective protection of civilian lives and stopping the state's killing machine.

The human rights organization calls on the UK and the EU to send a clear message, as a first practical step, by recalling their ambassadors from Tehran and downgrading diplomatic relations: the continuation of “crimes against humanity” cannot be tolerated and the Islamic Republic’s political immunity must end. Such action is at least the responsible response of the international community to a government that has systematically and relentlessly violated the fundamental principles of international law.