Guterres condemns Iran's use of force to suppress protesters

In his report, on Wednesday, the Secretary-General of the United Nations touched on the killing of demonstrators, the state of repression and the denial of minorities' rights by the Iranian authorities.

He also stressed that the human rights situation in Iran “remains a matter of grave concern due to the continuous and massive violations,” adding that “violent repression in which the security forces used excessive and lethal force in the face of nationwide protests in November 2019 and January 2020. ".

In addition, António Guterres expressed his concern about the continued implementation of the death penalty at high rates, including against child offenders, as well as the Iranian authorities directing charges against individuals who express dissenting or critical opinions, including human rights defenders, lawyers and journalists. Related to national security, and imposes long prison terms on them.

The Secretary-General of the International Organization quoted the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights with "reports of widespread acts of torture and arbitrary detention, as well as the continuing discrimination against women, girls and minorities."

He revealed that in 2019, at least 280 people were executed, 13 of which were publicly executed, while the period between January 1 and April 23, 2020 witnessed the execution of at least 84 executions.

The Secretary-General expressed "deep international concern" at the Iranian security forces' suppression of the protests on 15 November due to the increase in gasoline prices, which extended to 29 out of 31 Iranian provinces.

He said that the Iranian forces directed live ammunition towards the heads of the demonstrators and passers-by, where at least 304 people were killed, including 23 children (22 boys and one girl) and 10 women, between 15 and 19 November 2019 according to the statistics of the Commission for Human Rights, but reports of other organizations and opposition sources indicate the killing of 1,500 demonstrators.

He also expressed concern about the fate of at least 7,000 detainees since the protests, including the women who are in Tehran's Qarchak prison.

The report states that detained protesters are denied medical treatment, subjected to torture and ill-treatment, and forced to make false confessions.

In the context, the UN report documented the testimony of three detainees from Tehran, Tabriz and Ahwaz, who made statements stating that "the interrogators physically assaulted them and tried to force them to admit that foreign entities were behind the protests."

The Secretary-General said that he is deeply concerned about the continued pattern of excessive use of force by the security forces during the protests in dozens of Iranian cities in January 2020, after admitting that Revolutionary Guards missiles had shot down the Ukrainian Airlines plane, killing all 176 on board the plane

He also criticized the lack of accountability for those who ordered the perpetration of these severe human rights violations and those who carried them out, saying that the government's program to provide compensation to victims of the November 2019 protests is not an independent investigation into the events or a mechanism for holding security forces officials and others responsible for the use of excessive force leading to death. And other serious violations. "

In addition, he indicated that on November 16, 2019, the Supreme National Security Council of Iran, in response to the protests, ordered the largest shutdown of the Internet and mobile phone, as connection rates fell to 5%.

According to the report, the Commission for Human Rights has received reports of prisoners dying after being neglected in solitary confinement, of returning prisoners who had contracted COVID-19 infection or showing symptoms of disease to overcrowded cells instead of placing them in quarantine, and of transferring prisoners to wards where imprisoned individuals are being held because of violent crimes because of their exposure to the virus.

The Secretary-General criticized the exclusion of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience from the decision to temporarily release 120,000 prisoners out of 300,000, due to the corona pandemic.

He also expressed concern about the persistence of discrimination against women with regard to family affairs, freedom of movement, work, culture and sports, as well as access to political and judicial positions, and said that discrimination and violence against members of ethnic and religious minorities in Iran has led to deaths, injuries, arrests and sentencing, as well as imprisonment. For long periods of time and death on charges related to national security.

T/S

ANHA