The bloody crackdown on protests in Iran could soon be the subject of an international investigation by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). The 47 member states will meet urgently today to discuss the “deteriorating human rights situation” in Iran, at the request of over 50 UN member countries and on the initiative of Germany and Iceland.
For two months, the crackdown has killed at least 416 people, including 51 children, according to the NGO Iran Human Rightsbased in Norway.
This wave of protest – born from the demands of women after the death of Mahsa Amini, arrested for wearing the Islamic veil incorrectly and which has turned into a challenge to power – is unprecedented in scope and nature since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
Thousands of peaceful protesters who, according to the United Nations, have been arrested and Iranian justice has already handed down six death sentences in connection with the protests.
The Council will have to decide today, Thursday 24 November, to appoint a team of high-level investigators to shed light on all human rights violations linked to the crackdown on protests. According to the draft resolution presented by Germany and Iceland, this independent international fact-finding mission should include “the dimension of gender-based violence”.
