International Community’s Imperative: Combating Impunity for Iran’s Brutal Crackdown – One Year On

The Need for International Justice: Addressing Impunity for Iranian Officials

Introduction

Amnesty International has called on the international community to take action and pursue pathways for justice at the international level to address systemic impunity for Iranian officials responsible for the unlawful killings of protesters and widespread torture. This request comes on the one-year anniversary of the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising in Iran, during which the authorities committed a litany of crimes under international law to maintain their grip on power. The Iranian government has engaged in unlawful killings, executions of protesters, arbitrary arrests, torture, harassment of victims’ families, and repression of women and girls who defy compulsory veiling laws.

The Assault on Women’s Rights

Iranian authorities have waged an assault on the human rights of women and girls, particularly those who defy compulsory veiling laws. Despite months of protests against these laws, triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa/Zhina Amini, the authorities have reinstated “morality” policing and introduced measures that deprive women and girls of their rights. These include the confiscation of cars, denial of access to employment, education, healthcare, banking services, and public transport. Women who defy compulsory veiling face imprisonment, fines, and degrading punishments such as washing corpses. The authorities have also resorted to hateful rhetoric, referring to unveiling as a “virus” or “social illness”, equating it with “sexual depravity”. Furthermore, new legislation is being considered to impose even more severe penalties for defying compulsory veiling.

Flagrant Lies and Unlawful Killings

Security forces in Iran unleashed a brutal militarized crackdown between September and December 2022, resulting in the unlawful killing of hundreds of protesters and bystanders, including children. The majority of those unlawfully killed belonged to the oppressed Baluchi and Kurdish ethnic minorities. Rather than holding those responsible to account, the authorities have spent the past year disseminating lies, blaming the deaths on “rioters”, “unknown persons”, suicides, or accidents. Additionally, they have harassed and intimidated victims’ families, exacerbating their suffering.

Mass Arbitrary Detentions and Summons

During and after the uprising, the Iranian authorities arbitrarily arrested tens of thousands of men, women, and children, including protesters, human rights defenders, and minority rights activists. Journalists, media workers, lawyers representing victims’ families, as well as other lawyers, have been targeted. There have been intensified arrests and summons ahead of the anniversary, particularly targeting family members of those unlawfully killed and university students. The authorities are attempting to silence dissent and prevent anniversary protests.

A Tsunami of Torture

Security forces in Iran used live ammunition and metal pellets to disperse and terrorize protesters during the uprising, causing injuries amounting to torture or other ill-treatment. Thousands of detained protesters, including children, faced widespread torture and other ill-treatment. Many survivors live with long-term physical and psychological trauma as a result of their torture.

Execution of Protesters

In the past year, the Iranian authorities have increasingly used the death penalty as a tool of political repression, executing seven men following grossly unfair sham trials. Some were executed for alleged crimes such as damage to public property, while others were executed for the deaths of security forces during the protests. These executions occurred without proper investigations into allegations of torture and with a lack of evidence. Dozens of individuals remain at risk of execution or being sentenced to death in connection with the protests.

A Crisis of Impunity

The Iranian authorities have refused to conduct thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into the human rights violations committed during and in the aftermath of the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising. They have shielded officials from accountability and even applauded the security forces for suppressing the unrest. Officials who admitted to raping women protesters in Tehran have remained unpunished. Complaints from victims and their families have been dismissed, and they have faced threats of death or harm if they pursue justice.

Amnesty International has welcomed the establishment of a Fact-Finding Mission on Iran by the UN Human Rights Council, but more needs to be done to combat the crisis of impunity for serious crimes in Iran and prevent further bloodshed. Amnesty International urges all states to consider exercising universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction in relation to these crimes and other serious human rights violations committed by Iranian authorities. This includes initiating criminal investigations, disclosing the truth about the crimes, identifying those responsible, and issuing international arrest warrants when there is sufficient evidence. States should also contribute to achieving reparations for the victims.

Conclusion

The international community must take a stand against the systemic impunity in Iran and pursue pathways for justice at the international level. The crimes committed by Iranian officials during the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising, including unlawful killings, torture, and repression of women’s rights, are clear violations of international law. By invoking universal and extraterritorial jurisdiction, initiating criminal investigations, and holding those responsible accountable, the international community sends a strong message that human rights violations will not go unpunished. It is crucial for governments to issue statements condemning these crimes, call for an end to the unlawful use of force against protesters, and demand the release of all individuals detained for peacefully exercising their human rights. Through global solidarity and coordinated efforts, the international community can offer support to the victims and ensure that justice is served.

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