Dozens of UN experts condemn the Iranian regimes torture and mistreatment of the protesters that were detained during November uprising – December 20, 2019

On December 20, 2019, The UN Human Rights office of the High Commissioner’s website reported that the UN human rights experts including Mr. Javaid Rehman, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, and tens of other Special Rapporteur on different issues called on the Iranian regime to “release all individuals arbitrarily detained and mistreated during recent protests, and expressed concerns over the hundreds of people who have been killed.”

“We are shocked at reports of the ill-treatment of those detained during the protests that took place in November 2019, and deeply disturbed that the reported use of excessive force by the Iranian security forces led to an untold number of casualties, including deaths,” the experts said.

“Reports suggest that detainees are being tortured or are suffering other forms of ill-treatment, sometimes to extract forced confessions. Some are also reportedly being denied medical treatment, including for injuries caused by the security forces’ use of excessive force, and are being held in overcrowded detention centers. Some are being held incommunicado or subjected to enforced disappearances.”

The experts also fear that detainees will be denied the right to a fair trial because of Iran’s failure to adhere to due process standards, especially for those who have voiced opposition to the Government.

“Senior officials have said that protesters will face severe punishment,” the experts said. “We have already seen Iranian state television broadcast so-called ‘confessions’, despite claims that these are being obtained under duress. Many detainees are also reportedly being denied the right to a lawyer of their choosing.

“We urge the Government and the judiciary to ensure that all those accused of crimes go through court proceedings that adhere to international fair trial standards, including the presumption of innocence.”

According to Amnesty International, at least 304 people, including 12 children, are confirmed to have died, with reports indicating that the total could be more than 400.

According to Iran’s main opposition group, the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) the number of people killed by the regime’s security forces is over 1500 people. The MEK has released the names of 547 people in this regard. Many footages from the protests show how the regime’s security forces fired live ammunition on unarmed protesters.

“Reports and footage indicate that Iranian security forces not only fired live ammunition at unarmed protesters but also aimed at their heads and vital organs,” the experts said.

“Targeting these parts of the body shows that the security forces were aiming to kill or at least cause serious injury. The Governor of Quds City has herself admitted publicly that she ordered security forces to shoot protesters who entered the governor’s building.

“We are extremely disturbed that the Iranian authorities would use such tactics against peaceful protesters exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly, in breach of international standards on the use of force.”

The experts also raised their concern about ongoing suppression of the right to freedom of expression.

“Most disturbingly, the families of individuals killed by security forces have allegedly been threatened not to speak out. Iranian journalists have been ordered not to criticize the government response, while the relatives of journalists working for Farsi-language news outlets abroad are being pressured in an effort to silence their reporting.”

On December 6, 2019, Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights released a statement saying that she was alarmed by “the continuing lack of transparency about casualties and the treatment of thousands of detainees” during the recent protests in Iran.

In the statement, she called for “prompt, independent and impartial investigations” into all possible violations needed to be undertaken, “including the killing of protesters.”

In many occasions since the protests started on November 15, 2019, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has called on the United Nations Security Council, the European Union and its member states to condemn this horrendous mass killing by the Iranian regime and to take urgent action to stop this crime against humanity and secure the release all those arrested.