Human Rights Organization: The Reference of the Fact-Finding Committee to 'Crimes Against Humanity' in Iran is Significant

On Friday, March 14, the Iran Human Rights Campaign welcomed the second special report of the UN Human Rights Council's fact-finding committee regarding human rights violations by the Iranian government. In its report, the committee reaffirmed that the military forces of the Islamic Republic committed 'crimes against humanity' in the bloody suppression of peaceful protests for 'Women, Life, Freedom.' The Iran Human Rights Campaign stated that this accurate assessment by the committee paves the way for legal cases against those responsible for the suppressions, based on the review and verification of over 38,000 documents and interviews with 285 witnesses, victims, and other informed individuals. According to Behnam Darayizadeh, a senior researcher at the Iran Human Rights Campaign, the most important point in the second report of the UN Human Rights Council's fact-finding committee is that 'agents of the Islamic Republic, during the bloody suppression of the widespread protests of 2022 and also in repressive actions against women and minorities, have committed crimes against humanity, and these systematic suppressions continue.' He stated: 'Crimes against humanity' is one of the gravest titles defined in international criminal law and falls under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court alongside 'genocide' and 'war crimes.' Darayizadeh noted another important point is that the fact-finding committee mentions having a list of agents and governmental institutions involved in this campaign of repression and organized crimes. The senior researcher added: 'The reality is that the collection, examination, and verification of thousands of documents, along with interviews with hundreds of witnesses, victims, and informed individuals regarding the crimes of 2022, play a significant role in advancing the Iranian people's quest for justice.' Behnam Darayizadeh emphasized that the fact-finding committee's report in accurately and systematically documenting crimes against humanity in Iran will pave the way for legal proceedings, both in international courts and in the future of Iran. He stressed: 'Undoubtedly, the reports of the fact-finding committee in accurately and systematically documenting these crimes will pave the way for legal proceedings, whether in international courts or in the future of Iran. However, it must be emphasized that this requires political will and should not allow the independent process of seeking justice and truth to be sacrificed for political considerations or diplomatic deals.' The second comprehensive report of the UN Human Rights Council's fact-finding committee is set to be presented on March 19 at the 58th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The committee has stated that the government forces of the Islamic Republic have repeatedly shut down citizens' businesses due to the enforcement of hijab laws and have increased surveillance of women opposing mandatory hijab by insisting on implementing social plans such as the so-called 'Noor' plan. The findings of the UN fact-finding committee indicate that some detained women during interrogations have been victims of threatening behavior, humiliation, and physical violence. This body also reports that protesters and women's rights activists face heavy sentences, including imprisonment, financial penalties, and execution. Activists and protesters have been forced to confess under torture in unfair trials without access to lawyers. The UN fact-finding committee emphasizes that the security and judicial institutions of the Islamic Republic, including the Revolutionary Guards, Basij, Ministry of Intelligence, Law Enforcement, Guidance Patrol, and Judiciary, play a central role in suppressing citizens. However, the government has not accepted responsibility for human rights violations and has pressured the families of victims to abandon their quest for justice. The report emphasizes that the limited and nominal trials of some security agents are insufficient and have not led to any tangible change in the structure of repression. The UN Human Rights Council fact-finding committee has called for the establishment of an independent international body to investigate human rights violations in Iran. The report stresses that continued international oversight is essential, and its presentation to the Human Rights Council could lead to increased international actions against systematic human rights violations in Iran. The committee's report reaffirms previous findings and results regarding egregious human rights violations and crimes against humanity. The committee also investigated additional cases of sexual assault against protesting women, including gang rapes by the state, as well as the widespread use of 'suicide' executions and the deaths of protesters labeled as artificial suicides among detainees, which constitute torture. The fact-finding committee also expanded its investigations into the roles, structures, and responsibilities of governmental institutions such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Basij, Ministry of Intelligence, Ministry of Interior, Police (Faraaja), including its special forces, and the 'Morality Police,' as well as provincial governors and the Judiciary. The committee has gathered and analyzed information about the identity and responsibilities of individuals suspected of committing crimes and placed it in a confidential list to be delivered to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights at the end of its mission. Recognizing that human rights concerns in Iran are complex and widespread, and exceed the current fact-finding committee's mandate, this report calls on the Human Rights Council to consider appointing a new independent body to continue the work of the fact-finding committee. The report emphasizes that such a body could continue investigations into serious human rights violation claims in Iran, both past and present, as well as their root causes, including structural and systemic discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion, and/or political beliefs. Viviana Krstic, a member of the fact-finding committee, stated: 'Government policies have deprived victims in Iran of their right to truth, justice, and reparations.' She added: 'Given the significance of the violations, along with the serious risk of repeated violence against those who express dissent or challenge government policies, it is essential for the Human Rights Council to support and accompany victims in the accountability process, including making every effort to ensure non-recurrence, in accordance with the vital role of the Human Rights Council in prevention.' The UN Human Rights Council established an independent international fact-finding committee on the Islamic Republic of Iran on November 24, 2022, to investigate reported human rights violations related to the protests that began on September 16, 2022, particularly those concerning women and children. On December 20, 2022, Sara Hossain (Bangladesh), Shaheen Sardar Ali (Pakistan), and Viviana Krstic (Argentina) were appointed as three independent and impartial experts on this committee.