The U.S. Calls for Continuation of the Fact-Finding Committee's Mission on Serious Human Rights Violations in Iran

Abram Pili, the Deputy Special Representative of the U.S. State Department for Iran, called for the continuation of the mission of the United Nations Human Rights Council's fact-finding committee regarding Iran. Mr. Pili wrote on his account on the social media platform 'X': 'The whole world is paying attention to the fact-finding committee's report and its conclusion that many serious human rights violations have occurred in Iran, which may constitute crimes against humanity.' He also emphasized the necessity of continuing the important mission of the fact-finding committee. On Friday, March 9, the committee reported that 'institutional discrimination against women and girls' in Iran signifies 'human rights violations and crimes against humanity in the context of recent protests.' The fact-finding committee, assigned by the UN Human Rights Council to prepare this report on Iran, stated in its first 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 submitted to the UN Human Rights Council emphasizes that the instances of human rights violations and crimes under international law during the protests 'Women, Life, Freedom,' which began on September 16, 2022, after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, include 'killings, extrajudicial executions, unlawful deaths, unnecessary and excessive use of force, arbitrary deprivation of liberty, torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearances, and gender-based persecution.' According to this report, Sara Hussein, the head of the fact-finding committee, stated: 'These acts constitute part of a widespread and organized attack directly targeting the civilian population of Iran, namely women, girls, boys, and men who have demanded freedom, equality, human dignity, and accountability for the perpetrators of rights violations.' Shahin Sardar Ali, an expert member of this committee, also stated: 'We urgently call 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.' Meanwhile, according to ISNA news agency, Nasser Kanani, spokesman for the Islamic Republic's Foreign Ministry, condemned the fact-finding committee's report. He claimed that 'the countries that initiated the formation of the so-called fact-finding committee are angry about the security and stability prevailing in Iran and their failed interventions in the 2022 unrest, and through the publication of this report, they intend to take revenge on the Iranian people.' Typically, Islamic Republic officials have taken a similar stance regarding any human rights report about Iran since the establishment of this regime. This is while human rights organizations have published extensive documentation and evidence of severe human rights violations in Iran in their reports. A human rights organization reported: Iran ranks first in the world for executing women. Hengaw: Last year, at least 22 women were executed in Iran, and 325 women activists were arrested. Dozens of women, labor, and civil rights activists: The Islamic Republic should be boycotted as a regime of gender apartheid. A video message from several women activists: March 8 is the day of women's struggle for equality with men. The Iranian Writers' Association on the occasion of International Women's Day: Mahsas, Nikas, and Armitas have sacrificed for women's freedom. Exclusive: Families of victims and affected individuals: The IRGC should be listed as a terrorist organization.