Iran: ‘The killing of peaceful demonstrators must stop,’ UN rights chief says

This article is published in association with United Nations.

 As anti-government demonstrations continue across Iran, the UN human rights chief said on Tuesday that he was horrified at the mounting violence directed by security forces against protestors, with reports of hundreds killed and thousands arrested. 

Volker Türk urged the authorities to immediately halt all forms of violence and repression against peaceful protestors and to restore full access to the internet and telecommunications. 

“The killing of peaceful demonstrators must stop, and the labelling of protesters as ‘terrorists’ to justify violence against them is unacceptable,” he said. 

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Demands for change being repressed 

Since 28 December, citizens have taken to the streets in all provinces of Iran, initially to voice their frustration over record inflation, soaring food prices and the sudden collapse of the national currency. 

Mr. Türk recalled that protests also took place in 2022, with broad sections of the population demanding fundamental change in how the country was being governed, “and once again, the authorities’ reaction is to inflict brutal force to repress legitimate demands for change.” 

He said “this cycle of horrific violence cannot continue. The Iranian people and their demands for fairness, equality and justice must be heard.” Additionally, all killings, violence against protesters, and other human rights violations must be investigated and those responsible held to account. 

Calls for death penalty ‘extremely worrying’ 

He noted that several hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed by the number of casualties – which include children. Internet shutdowns have hampered verification, though some telephone services were partially restored.

Reports indicate that members of security forces have also been killed. 

“It is also extremely worrying to see public statements by some judicial officials indicating the possibility of the death penalty being used against protesters through expedited judicial proceedings” he added. 

He noted that since 8 January, the Iranian authorities have imposed a nationwide internet shutdown, affecting peoples’ rights to freedom of expression and access to information, disrupting emergency and lifesaving services and obstructing independent human rights monitoring. 

“Iranians have the right to demonstrate peacefully,” said Mr. Türk. “Their grievances need to be heard and addressed, and not instrumentalised by anyone.”  

End the violence and promote dialogue: rights experts 

Separately, a group of independent human rights experts urged Iran to break the cycle of violence and create space for dialogue. 

“The use of lethal force against peaceful protesters, arbitrary arrests – including of children – and attacks on medical facilities represent clear violations of international human rights law,” they said. 

The reported lethal and excessive use of force by security forces in recent days has included firing directly on largely peaceful protesters using rifles, shotguns loaded with metal pellets, water cannons and tear gas, in addition to beatings. 

Furthermore, accounts also indicate raids on hospitals, the use of tear gas inside medical facilities, and attempts to arrest wounded protesters, while more than 2,600 people have reportedly been detained, including schoolchildren. 

Regarding reports of death sentences being issued, the experts warned that “if implemented, this compounds the reported unlawful killings of protesters by security forces on the streets with State-sanctioned executions.”  

The four experts are all Special Rapporteurs appointed by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.  Their individual mandates cover issues such as the human rights situation in Iran and promoting the rights to freedom of opinion, and of peaceful assembly and association, worldwide. 

They work on a voluntary basis and are independent from any government or organization, including the UN.  They are not UN staff do not get paid for their work.