Reactions Continue to UN Fact-Finding Mission Report; US Calls for Extension; Islamic Republic: Report is Biased and 'Hostile'

One day after the release of the UN fact-finding mission report on human rights conditions in Iran, which reported 'crimes against humanity' by the Islamic Republic, Iranian media and government officials continued to attack this body, criticizing the report and describing its purpose as 'revenge'. The Mizan news agency, affiliated with the judiciary of the Islamic Republic, on Saturday, March 10, published an article titled 'Biased Western Reports on Iran', stating that the credibility of the Human Rights Council is 'severely damaged' and accusing Western countries of adopting 'hostile approaches' against Iran. Simultaneously, Nasser Kan'ani, spokesperson for the Islamic Republic's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, without providing any evidence, described the purpose of the fact-finding mission's report as 'revenge against the Iranian nation'. Meanwhile, Abram Paley, Deputy Special Representative of the US Department of State for Iran, referring to international attention to this report, called for the continuation of the UN Human Rights Council's fact-finding mission regarding Iran. The UN fact-finding mission reported on Friday, March 10, that 'institutional discrimination against women and girls' in Iran constitutes a 'violation of human rights and crimes against humanity in the context of recent protests'. This mission, commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council to prepare this report on Iran, stated in its first official report: 'The violent suppression of peaceful protests and widespread discrimination against women and girls has led to serious human rights violations by the Islamic Republic of Iran, many of which are considered crimes against humanity.' The report emphasizes that instances of human rights violations and crimes under international law in the context of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' protests, which began on September 16, 2022, following the death of Mahsa Amini in custody, include 'murder, extrajudicial executions and unlawful deaths, unnecessary and excessive use of force, arbitrary deprivation of liberty, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, and gender-based persecution and harassment.' According to the UN fact-finding mission report, 'government security forces, especially the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Basij forces, and the police command of the Islamic Republic of Iran and other forces' have participated in 'serious human rights violations and the commission of crimes.' Shahin Sardar Ali, one of the three experts on the fact-finding mission, has 'urgently' called on Iranian officials to 'unconditionally halt all death sentences and immediately release detainees and end the repression of protesters, their families, and supporters of the Women, Life, Freedom movement.' The extension of the fact-finding mission's mandate will be voted on at the beginning of next month in the UN Human Rights Council. However, on March 18, the experts of the fact-finding mission will present a summary of their findings in a public session of the Human Rights Council and will also answer questions from council members. The UN fact-finding committee has deemed discrimination against women in Iran a violation of human rights and a crime against humanity. Hengaw: Last year, at least 22 women were executed in Iran, and 325 female activists were detained. Four human rights organizations: Repression, detention, and persecution of Christians in Iran continue. Experts discuss the government committee investigating the nationwide protests of 2022.