Protests in Iran: UN human rights chief says ‘full blown’ crisis is underway in Iran



CNN

Iran is in a “full-blown human rights crisis” as authorities crack down on anti-regime dissidents, according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

Turk called for “independent, impartial and transparent investigations” of human rights abuses in Iran during a special session of the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday.

The Islamic Republic was swept by a wave of anti-government protests caused by the death of Mahsa AminiA 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian who was detained by vice police in September for allegedly not wearing the hijab properly.

Since then the authorities have deployed deadly reprisals on demonstrators, with reports of forced detention as well as physical violence used to attack the country’s Kurdish minority. AT recent CNN investigationundercover testimony showed sexual violence against protesters, including boys, in Iran’s detention centers since the riots began.

The Turk appealed to the Iranian authorities

Security forces reportedly responded to the protests by using lethal force against unarmed demonstrators and bystanders who “posed no threat,” Turk told a council of 47 member states in Geneva.

More than 14,000 people, including children, have been arrested in connection with the protests, Turk said. He said at least 21 of them were currently facing the death penalty, and six had already received death sentences.

Turk added that the unprecedented national uprising has engulfed more than 150 cities and 140 universities in all 31 provinces of Iran.

More than 300 people have died since the demonstrations began, according to the rights group.

“We have received reports that injured protesters are afraid to go to the hospital because of the risk of being arrested by security forces,” he said.

“I am alarmed by reports that even children suspected of participating in the protests are being arrested in schools, hundreds of students are being called in for questioning, threatened or partially suspended from entering university campuses.

“I call on those in power in Iran to fully respect the fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly.

“No society can be calcified or petrified, since it can exist at one moment in time. Trying to do it against the will of the people is futile.”

Iranian security forces began a violent crackdown on anti-regime demonstrators.

Tehran has strongly condemned the “disgusting and shameful” emergency meeting of the UN Human Rights Council, just as Iran’s foreign ministry announced the formation of a national committee to investigate deaths linked to the protest movement.

Deputy Vice President for Women and Family Affairs in Iran Khadija Karimi, who represented Iran at Thursday’s session, denounced Germany’s “politically motivated” decision to convene the session, calling it a “planned ploy with ulterior motives.” ”

Countries like Germany, Britain and France lack “the moral authority to preach to others about human rights and demand a special session on Iran,” Karimi said.

She also defended the conduct of the Iranian security forces and said the government had taken “necessary steps” following Amini’s “unfortunate” death while in the custody of the vice police.

Iran’s security forces’ brutal response to the protesters has shaken diplomatic relations between Tehran and Western leaders.

The White House on Wednesday introduced its latest round of sanctions on three officials in Iran’s Kurdish region after US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said he was “strongly concerned that Iranian authorities are reportedly ramping up violence against protesters.”

During an interview with Indian broadcaster NDTV on Thursday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said that foreign powers are interfering in Iran’s internal affairs and creating “false narratives.”