Amnesty International Calls for the Release of All Detained Protesters in Iran

On Wednesday, August 8, Amnesty International called for the release of all those detained during the recent protests in Iran. The organization also demanded an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Reza Outadi during the protests in Karaj. Amnesty International urged Iranian authorities to protect detainees from torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment, and to immediately clarify the status and location of dozens of detainees for their families, who have been kept in the dark. The organization expressed concern over the situation of Nader Afshari, a civil activist who was detained by the Ministry of Intelligence in Karaj on August 2, stating that he is 'at risk of torture and ill-treatment.' Nader Afshari had previously been arrested last winter and released on a bail of 100 million tomans. Maryam Sabzparvar, Nader Afshari's mother, emphasized in an interview with Radio Farda that she is unaware of her son's status and fate. According to reports, a judge told her that Nader Afshari has been transferred to a secret detention center. In recent weeks, following the collapse of the rial's value, economic instability, rising prices, and the daily increase in the prices of foreign currencies and gold coins, Tehran and several other cities in Iran have witnessed protests. These protests initially began with economic slogans but evolved into demonstrations against the Supreme Leader, the government, and the clergy. Amnesty International stated that thousands of people have taken to the streets in Iran over the past two weeks in protest against inflation and economic instability, most of which were peaceful demonstrations, 'but in some cases, a number of protesters resorted to violent actions, including throwing stones, setting fire to objects, and vandalizing vehicles and buildings.' The human rights organization noted that 'Iranian authorities have responded to the protests with a new wave of arrests.' According to reports, dozens of detainees have been transferred to Evin Prison, and some reports indicate that 50 female detainees have been moved to Shahr-e Rey Prison (known as Qarchak). Amnesty International also referred to the killing of 26-year-old Reza Outadi during the protests in Karaj, stating: 'Iranian authorities must ensure that investigations into the killing of Reza Outadi are conducted completely independently and impartially, and those suspected of criminal responsibility in this regard must be investigated and prosecuted according to fair trial standards.' The prosecutor of Karaj had previously stated that Reza Outadi was shot from behind by a weapon among 'the protesters.' Iranian officials have not accepted responsibility for the deaths of most protesters killed during the protests of 2009, January 2018, and other similar incidents, consistently attributing the shootings to 'unknown individuals,' 'agents of Western security services,' and individuals among the protesters. The U.S. Secretary of State has also previously expressed concern about 'reports of violence by the Iranian government against unarmed citizens' during the recent protests. Mike Pompeo urged the Iranian government to 'respect the human rights of its people.'