UN Experts Condemn Intensified Crackdown on Protesters on Mahsa Amini Anniversary

A group of United Nations experts condemned the Iranian government's intensified crackdown on protesters on the anniversary of the killing of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini while in the custody of the morality police, in a statement issued on Tuesday, September 19. According to these experts, "Iran must be held accountable for the death of Zhina Mahsa Amini in police custody last year and must end the repression against protests stemming from her death." They accused the Islamic Republic of imposing restrictions and threatening retaliation against public commemorations for Mahsa after months of brutal suppression of demonstrations. The experts recalled the short-term detention of Amjad Amini, Mahsa's father, on the anniversary of his daughter's killing, as well as the siege of Mahsa's family's home to prevent their participation in memorial events. They noted that the Islamic Republic deployed heavy security forces in Tehran and Kurdish cities to prevent widespread commemorative events. They referred to the shooting of protesters by security forces, resulting in one injury in the city of Mahabad and another person in critical condition in the city of Saqez, who was shot by security forces. The UN experts stated that, according to reports from Iranian state media, over 260 Iranian citizens have been arrested by the Islamic Republic's agents in recent days. In another part of their statement, referencing an independent international fact-finding committee regarding the Islamic Republic, they stated that the Iranian government's claim attributing Mahsa's death to underlying medical conditions does not align with human rights values and international standards. The experts also expressed concern over the summons or detention of the families of executed individuals and the "worrying pattern" of mistreatment of human rights defenders, journalists, and imprisoned lawyers. Javaid Rehman, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran, and Irene Khan, the UN Special Rapporteur for the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, are among the signatories of this statement. Several labor activists and teachers have been arrested in various cities in Iran. One person was killed by security forces in Firuzabad; officials claimed it was "return fire." Widespread arrests occurred on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini. Exclusive: Faridin Jafari's cousin stated that the IRGC agents shot him in the head; Faridin's father has filed a complaint against the IRGC. Protests continue in Iran despite crackdowns; protesters in Hamadan shouted, "Death to the Islamic Republic."