Volker Türk urged the authorities to instantly halt all varieties of violence and repression in opposition to peaceful protestors and to revive full entry to the web and telecommunications.
“The killing of peaceful demonstrators must cease, and the labelling of protesters as ‘terrorists’ to justify violence in opposition to them is unacceptable,” he mentioned.
Calls for for change being repressed
Since 28 December, residents have taken to the streets in all provinces of Iran, initially to voice their frustration over document inflation, hovering meals costs and the sudden collapse of the nationwide foreign money.
Mr. Türk recalled that protests additionally befell in 2022, with broad sections of the inhabitants demanding elementary change in how the nation was being ruled, “and as soon as once more, the authorities’ response is to inflict brutal pressure to repress reputable calls for for change.”
He mentioned “this cycle of horrific violence can’t proceed. The Iranian individuals and their calls for for equity, equality and justice must be heard.” Moreover, all killings, violence in opposition to protesters, and different human rights violations must be investigated and people accountable held to account.
Requires demise penalty ‘extraordinarily worrying’
He famous that a number of hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed by the quantity of casualties – which embrace kids. Web shutdowns have hampered verification, although some phone companies had been partially restored.
Experiences point out that members of safety forces have additionally been killed.
“It’s also extraordinarily worrying to see public statements by some judicial officers indicating the chance of the demise penalty getting used in opposition to protesters by expedited judicial proceedings” he added.
He famous that since 8 January, the Iranian authorities have imposed a nationwide web shutdown, affecting peoples’ rights to freedom of expression and entry to info, disrupting emergency and lifesaving companies and obstructing unbiased human rights monitoring.
“Iranians have the correct to reveal peacefully,” mentioned Mr. Türk. “Their grievances have to be heard and addressed, and never instrumentalised by anybody.”
Finish the violence and promote dialogue: rights consultants
Individually, a bunch of unbiased human rights consultants urged Iran to interrupt the cycle of violence and create area for dialogue.
“The use of deadly pressure in opposition to peaceful protesters, arbitrary arrests – together with of kids – and assaults on medical amenities signify clear violations of worldwide human rights regulation,” they mentioned.
The reported deadly and extreme use of pressure by safety forces in current days has included firing immediately on largely peaceful protesters utilizing rifles, shotguns loaded with steel pellets, water cannons and tear fuel, along with beatings.
Moreover, accounts additionally point out raids on hospitals, the use of tear fuel inside medical amenities, and makes an attempt to arrest wounded protesters, whereas extra than 2,600 individuals have reportedly been detained, together with schoolchildren.
Concerning experiences of demise sentences being issued, the consultants warned that “if applied, this compounds the reported illegal killings of protesters by safety forces on the streets with State-sanctioned executions.”
The 4 consultants are all Particular Rapporteurs appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Their particular person mandates cowl points such because the human rights state of affairs in Iran and selling the rights to freedom of opinion, and of peaceful meeting and affiliation, worldwide.
They work on a voluntary foundation and are unbiased from any authorities or group, together with the UN. They aren’t UN employees don’t get paid for his or her work.
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