US Ambassador to UN Human Rights Council Condemns Iran's 'Cruel' Actions Against Its Citizens

Michelle Taylor, the US Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council, reacted to the release of the first report by the UN's fact-finding committee regarding 'institutional discrimination against women and girls' in Iran. Ms. Taylor wrote in a message on her social media account on 'X': 'The United States strongly condemns the regime's cruel actions against its citizens' and added, 'The findings of the fact-finding committee highlight severe violations that could potentially amount to crimes against humanity.' She firmly supported the 'vital' efforts of the UN's fact-finding committee and urged all member states of the Human Rights Council to support the extension of its mandate. Michelle Taylor also wrote: 'Our commitment to justice and accountability in Iran remains steadfast and unwavering.' The UN fact-finding committee reported on Friday, March 9, that 'institutional discrimination against women and girls' in the Islamic Republic of Iran constitutes 'a violation of human rights and a crime against humanity in the context of recent protests.' This committee, tasked by the UN Human Rights Council to prepare this report, 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 amount to crimes against humanity.' The UN fact-finding committee emphasized in its report to the Human Rights Council that the 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 police custody, include 'killings, extrajudicial executions, unlawful deaths, unnecessary and excessive use of force, arbitrary deprivation of liberty, torture, rape, enforced disappearances, and gender-based persecution.' A spokesperson for the US State Department, in a written response to the Persian section of Voice of America regarding this matter, expressed 'deep concern' over what was reported by the UN fact-finding committee, stating, 'We have pursued a wide range of actions with our allies and partners in the international community to support the human rights of the people of Iran and promote accountability for the regime.' Abram Paley, Deputy Special Representative for Iran at the US State Department, also immediately after the release of this report, wrote in a message on his social media account on X that the whole world is paying attention to this report and emphasized the necessity of continuing this 'important mission.' The US State Department: We will continue to explore all tools to hold accountable those responsible for human rights violations in Iran. The US called for the continuation of the fact-finding committee's mandate regarding serious human rights violations in Iran. The sixteenth annual report on the death penalty in Iran; the Islamic Republic ranks first in the world for executing women. Amnesty International warns of the risk of execution for five detained protesters in Iran. The UN General Assembly condemned the widespread human rights violations by the Islamic Republic by passing a resolution.