Tehran targeted for serious human rights abuses.

The violent repression in Iran of protests, mainly peaceful, after the death of Mahsa Amini and "institutionalized discrimination" against women and girls has led to "crimes against humanity", says a report on Friday March 8 of experts mandated by the UN Human Rights Council.

Many of the serious human rights violations documented in the report "constitute crimes against humanity, in particular murder, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution, disappearance forced and other inhumane acts", underline these experts.

The Human Rights Council had mandated this expert investigation – in which the Iranian authorities refused to participate – following the gigantic demonstrations which shook Iran from September 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini, a young 22-year-old woman arrested by the moral police for wearing the hijab in a manner deemed to be improper.

Also read Nobel Peace Prize: Narges Mohammadi, a life for the defense of human rights in Iran

The authorities then mobilized the entire security apparatus to repress the demonstrators who took to the streets after his death, according to experts.

“551 demonstrators killed by security forces”

“Credible figures suggest that as many as 551 protesters were killed by security forces, including at least 49 women and 68 children. Most of the deaths were caused by firearms, including assault rifles.” , underlines the report.

The fact-finding mission "found, in the cases examined, that security forces used unnecessary and disproportionate force, leading to unlawful killings and injuries among protesters."

“The numerous injuries to the demonstrators' eyes blinded dozens of women, men and children, scarring them for life,” the report said.

“The mission also found evidence of extrajudicial executions,” it said.

Also read: In Iran, rape used to silence prisoners after the death of Mahsa Amini

With AFP

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