Amnesty International: Harassment of Families of Deceased Protesters Must End

On Sunday, August 20, Amnesty International issued a statement emphasizing the need to end the Iranian government's actions in "harassing the families of individuals who were unlawfully killed during protests" and called for global action to hold the Iranian authorities accountable. In the statement, the international organization urged Iranian officials to "end the harassment of families, including arbitrary arrests, detentions, flogging, and forced confessions," recognize "human rights," and cease their actions against them. According to the statement, Iranian officials have resorted to "wicked tricks" to silence the families of victims on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the "Women, Life, Freedom" uprising. Amnesty International's report titled "Iran: The Harassment of Families Whose Members Were Unlawfully Killed During Protests Must End" examined 36 families in 10 provinces of Iran who have recently faced "human rights violations" due to these "wicked tricks." Simultaneously, Amnesty International highlighted the intensified harassment of families, including the "destruction of the graves of activists" from the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement through tar, paint, arson, and breaking gravestones. This investigation includes the families of 33 individuals who were "unlawfully" killed by security forces during protests, two who were arbitrarily executed in connection with the protests, and one torture survivor who later committed suicide after being released. The research also indicates that Iranian officials continue their harassment by exposing the "families of victims" to arbitrary arrests and detentions, as well as cruel restrictions on gatherings in cemeteries. Despite this, none of the Iranian officials have been held accountable for the unlawful killings that began after the popular uprising following the death of Mahsa Jina Amini. Amnesty International also called for global condemnation and the issuance of arrest warrants for Iranian officials suspected of such "wicked tricks." In the conclusion of the statement, Amnesty International referred to the "criminal responsibility" of those who perpetrate and order these crimes, demanding accountability from Iranian officials for violations committed during and after the "Women, Life, Freedom" uprising. The death of 22-year-old Mahsa (Jina) Amini in the custody of the morality police on September 16, 2022, sparked ongoing protests across Iran and the world. During these protests, over 500 individuals, including 71 children, were killed, and thousands were arrested, with the Iranian government executing seven protesters to date. In recent months, the graves of those killed in the nationwide protests have been repeatedly destroyed.