Coinciding with the fifty-fourth session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on October 5th, a pivotal conference was held focusing on the human rights situation in Iran under its clerical dictatorship.
Human rights advocates demanded the extension of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission into the suppression of women-led demonstrations beginning in September 2022. They also called for a probe into the 1988 mass execution of political detainees in Iran.
Antonio Stango, the conference’s moderator and President of the Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU), expressed significant concern regarding Iran’s repression, particularly the crackdown on dissenters through mass imprisonments and executions.
Sonja Biserko, from the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, emphasized the continuous issue of Iran’s impunity. She underlined the need for accountability regarding the 1988 extrajudicial executions and the 2022 uprising, urging for a strengthened UN fact-finding mission and a full investigation of the 1988 massacre.
Echoing these sentiments, Tahar Boumedra, JVMI Director and former UNAMI Human Rights Office Chief, critiqued Iran’s approach to the Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR). He also discussed the new hijab and chastity bill and the resultant protests following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.
Mr. Boumedra pointed to various credible reports regarding the enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killing of thousands in 1988 due to their political and religious beliefs. He emphasized the importance of the UN Human Rights Council renewing its investigation into recent protests and extending it to cover the 1988 massacre.
Laurence Fehlmann Rielle, Member of the National Council of Switzerland, voiced concerns regarding repression in Iran, particularly targeting women. She underlined the importance of the international community exerting tangible pressure on Iran, with Switzerland playing a vital role due to its commitment to abolishing the death penalty.
Renowned human rights advocate Kirsty Brimelow KC, stressed the urgency of holding perpetrators accountable for the 1988 massacre in Iran. She denounced these acts as crimes against humanity and emphasized the need for an international tribunal to conduct a formal investigation.
As the conference concluded, it was evident that the grave human rights situation in Iran remains a pressing concern for the global community. Advocates and dignitaries alike highlighted the urgent need for accountability, investigation, and concerted international action.
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