First Report of the UN Fact-Finding Mission: Injustices Continue After Mahsa Amini's Death

On Wednesday morning, July 14, local time, the UN International Fact-Finding Mission presented its first oral report to the Human Rights Council regarding the human rights situation in Iran at the UN headquarters in Geneva. During the meeting, which started at 10:30 AM local time and lasted for two and a half hours, Sara Hussein, the head of the UN fact-finding mission, presented the initial report and subsequently responded to questions raised by member countries and representatives of several human rights organizations. In her remarks, Sara Hussein referred to the death of Mahsa Amini and the family's pursuit of justice, stating that the Amini family was not only denied justice but that Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, two journalists who reported on the issue, had been arrested and prosecuted. The head of the fact-finding mission emphasized that despite the lack of media attention on protests in Iran, like those in November, information and reports of human rights violations related to this issue continue to reach the mission. Sara Hussein noted that the mission had informed the Islamic Republic from the beginning that it sought access to Iran, responsible officials, and victims to hear all parties' accounts and investigate the claims received. The head of the mission announced that the Islamic Republic had not provided any 'direct response' to the mission's requests. Nevertheless, Sara Hussein reported that the previous day, they had met in Geneva with a special delegation appointed by Ebrahim Raisi months ago to investigate the dimensions of last year's protests and were reviewing this delegation's performance and findings. The session for presenting the oral report of the independent international fact-finding mission, established to investigate alleged human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran - July 14, 1402. The head of the fact-finding mission stressed that despite restrictions on contacting victims, the mission would strive to provide safe means for victims to convey their statements to the mission. Sara Hussein addressed the Human Rights Council, stating that 'any threats, pressures, or actions by the government' against those wishing to contact the mission or obstructing the mission's activities would be reported to the Human Rights Council. The fact-finding mission expressed serious concern over the pressure on the families of victims seeking justice and urged the Islamic Republic to refrain from issuing heavy sentences and executions for protesters. Sara Hussein questioned the conditions of the 'amnesty' for prisoners that was implemented late last year, stating that reports had been received indicating that a precondition for these 'amnesties' was obtaining commitments from prisoners to refrain from repeating their activities while admitting to charges. After Sara Hussein's remarks, Kazem Gharibabadi, the Secretary of the Human Rights Headquarters of the Islamic Republic, spoke in defense of the Islamic Republic's record. The representative of the Islamic Republic at the Human Rights Council meeting. Following this, more than 40 representatives from UN member countries and the Human Rights Council, including the USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Finland, Canada, Venezuela, Costa Rica, and the European Union, expressed their opinions. During the speeches of the representatives from the USA, France, and Canada, the representative of the Islamic Republic interrupted the speakers more than five times due to the use of the term 'regime' and issued procedural warnings. These warnings caused the session to be interrupted for several minutes. Several human rights organizations also had the opportunity to express their views during this meeting. In the final part of the session, all three experts from the fact-finding mission responded to some of the questions raised during the meeting. A group of three women experts is responsible for leading the independent international fact-finding mission regarding Iran. Sara Hussein from Bangladesh is the head of this mission, with Shahin Sardar Ali from Pakistan and Violeta Kristichovich from Argentina as the other two members. The three independent experts leading the fact-finding mission. Following the violent crackdown on protests last year in Iran, which began after Mahsa Amini's death in police custody, many human rights activists called for the establishment of a fact-finding mission regarding the actions of the Islamic Republic. At the thirty-fifth special session of the UN Human Rights Council held on Thursday, December 3 of last year, member countries voted, resulting in the adoption of a resolution to establish a fact-finding committee for Iran with 25 votes in favor, six against, and 16 abstentions. The Islamic Republic, accused of human rights violations, has stated that it will not cooperate with this UN committee. Kazem Gharibabadi, the Secretary of the Human Rights Headquarters of the Islamic Republic, who is present as the head of the Iranian delegation in Geneva, described the establishment of the fact-finding mission by the Human Rights Council as a 'political and unjustified action' and referred to last year's protests, which he called 'riots,' as a 'comprehensive hybrid war against Iran.' Previously, Hossein Raisi, an Iranian lawyer residing in Canada, commented on the selection of three women as members of this fact-finding committee, stating that all three are distinguished lawyers familiar with UN issues, human rights, the Middle East, Muslim countries, gender, and children's rights.