Iran Uprising: Commemorating with Respect and Without Reprisals on One-Year Anniversary

Amnesty International Calls for Justice and Respect for Victims’ Families in Iran

Introduction

Amnesty International has called on the Iranian authorities to allow the families of those unlawfully killed during the “Woman Life Freedom” uprising in 2022 to mark the one-year anniversaries of their deaths. In a new report, Amnesty International details the campaign of persecution and intimidation that the Iranian authorities have unleashed on the victims’ families, in an attempt to enforce silence and impunity. The report reveals that the authorities have subjected the families to arbitrary arrests and detentions, imposed cruel restrictions on peaceful gatherings at grave sites, and even destroyed victims’ gravestones. Amnesty International considers these actions to be a violation of international law, specifically the absolute prohibition on torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

Background

The “Woman Life Freedom” uprising in Iran was sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa/Zhina Amini on 16 September 2022. Following her death, security forces brutally cracked down on the popular protests, resulting in the unlawful killing of hundreds of men, women, and children. Yet, not a single official has been held accountable for these killings. Instead, the Iranian authorities have intensified their efforts to cover up their crimes by targeting the families of the victims.

Persecution of Victims’ Families

Amnesty International’s report documents numerous human rights violations against the families of the victims. These violations include arbitrary arrests and detentions, unjust prosecutions on vague national security charges, coercive interrogations, unlawful surveillance, and the destruction or damage of gravesites. The Iranian authorities have gone to great lengths to prevent the families from seeking justice, truth, and reparation for their loved ones.

One heartbreaking example is the case of Artin Rahmani, a 16-year-old who was shot dead by security forces. His mother, in a Twitter post, described how she was summoned to the prosecutor’s office for seeking justice for her son’s killing. She lamented that citizens in Iran have no right to protest and that any attempts to seek freedom are suppressed with great violence.

Need for International Support

Amnesty International is calling on the international community to support the victims’ families by pressuring the Iranian authorities to respect their right to freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. The families need protection from arbitrary detention, threats, and other reprisals. Additionally, states should urge the Iranian authorities to release all individuals detained for advocating for truth and justice, quash unjust convictions and sentences, and drop all charges against those facing reprisals for speaking out.

Furthermore, Amnesty International has documented the cases of 35 victims’ families from 10 provinces in Iran who have faced human rights violations in recent months. It is essential for the international community to take action to address the impunity in Iran. Amnesty International suggests that all states exercise universal jurisdiction and issue arrest warrants for Iranian officials, including those with command responsibility, who are reasonably suspected of criminal responsibility for crimes under international law committed during and after the uprising.

Conclusion

The persecution and intimidation that the Iranian authorities have subjected the families of the victims to is a clear violation of their rights. By preventing the families from marking the one-year anniversaries of their loved ones’ deaths, the authorities are compounding their anguish and suffering. Amnesty International’s report sheds light on the widespread human rights violations and the need for justice and respect for the victims’ families.

The international community must stand in solidarity with the victims’ families and press the Iranian authorities to respect their fundamental rights. It is only through sustained international pressure that the authorities can be held accountable for their actions. The families deserve justice, truth, and reparation for the unlawful killings of their loved ones. Now is the time for action.