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Iran Protests: UN Human Rights Agencies Vote to Investigate Tehran Crackdown

The UN Human Rights Council on Thursday condemned a bloody crackdown on peaceful protests in Iran and voted to create an independent fact-finding mission to investigate alleged abuses, especially those against women and children. .

A resolution put forward by Germany and Iceland was supported by 25 countries, including the United States and many European, Latin American, Asian and African countries. Six countries – China, Pakistan, Cuba, Eritrea, Venezuela and Armenia – voted against and 16 abstained.

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The UN’s top human rights official had previously urged the Iranian government to end its crackdown on protesters, but Tehran’s envoy to the Special Human Rights Council on the country’s “deteriorating” rights situation was defiant and inflexible. Instead, he denounced the initiative as “politically motivated”. ”

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The protests were sparked more than two months ago by the death of 22-year-old Masa Amini, who had been detained by morality police for violating a strictly enforced Islamic dress code.

Thursday’s session in Geneva is the latest international effort to put pressure on Iran’s crackdown, which has already imposed international sanctions and other measures.

In this photo taken by an individual not employed by the Associated Press and obtained by the Associated Press outside Iran, Iranians protest the death of 22-year-old Masa Amini, who was detained by moral police in Tehran last month. 27.

AP Photo/Middle East Images

German Foreign Minister Annalena Beerbock, who was present, said the situation “will test our courage”.

“The United Nations was established to protect the sovereignty of all nations, but any regime that uses this power to violate the rights of its own people violates the values ​​of our United Nations.

“We have repeatedly called on Iran to respect its right to stop violent repression, bloodshed, arbitrary killings, mass arrests and executions of demonstrators,” said Beerbok. “The only answer we received was more violence, more deaths.”

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Iran’s vice president for women and family affairs, Kadige Karimi, criticized the Western efforts as part of “a politically motivated move by Germany to distort Iran’s human rights situation.”

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has been abused again by several arrogant states for antagonizing a sovereign United Nations member state whose Human Rights Council is fully committed to its obligation to promote and protect human rights. I deeply regret the loss,” Karimi said.


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A month after Mahsa Amini’s death: A look back at anger-fueled protests across Iran around the world


She touted the government’s efforts to promote the role of women in the workplace and higher education, and warned that Western countries have seen violations of their rights in places like Yemen and the Palestinian Territory, as well as against Indigenous peoples in Canada. accused of squashing The Canadian government also recognizes this. .

Karimi acknowledged Amini’s “unfortunate death” and said “necessary steps” were taken afterwards, including the creation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry. accused of inciting violence.

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UN Human Rights Director Volker Turk expressed concern over the Iranian government’s failure to listen to the international community.

“Iranian people from all walks of life, regardless of ethnicity or age, are demanding change. It is rooted in the denial of freedom to the people,” he said.

“I call on the authorities to immediately stop using violence and harassment against peaceful demonstrators, release all those arrested in peaceful protests, and definitively suspend the death penalty. he added.

The German and Icelandic proposals were intended to strengthen the scrutiny carried out for years by the 47-nation council’s “special rapporteur” on Iran. Western diplomats say Tehran has led quiet pressure in Geneva and beyond to avoid further scrutiny through a new council resolution being considered Thursday.

In this photo taken by an individual not employed by the Associated Press and obtained by the Associated Press outside Iran, Iranians protest the death of 22-year-old Masa Amini, who was detained by moral police in Tehran last month. 27.

AP Photo/Middle East Images

The council will now set up a “fact-finding mission” to investigate rights violations “particularly concerning women and children” related to the protests that erupted on September 16. By allowing access to areas within Iranian territory, including places of detention.

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The team plans to report to the council in mid-2023.

Several Western diplomats have expressed anger at China’s last-minute attempt to nullify the planned investigation from the resolution. A Beijing representative said the fact-finding mission “clearly does not help resolve the issue” and “could further complicate the domestic situation in Iran.”

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However, the effort was ultimately unsuccessful, with only five countries supporting China’s proposed amendment.

Ambassador Michele Taylor, US envoy to the Geneva-based council, said: “Iran has shown its unwillingness to investigate numerous credible allegations of human rights abuses by members of its security forces. It is important that we pass a resolution to create the delegation,” he said. other officials. ”

Taylor said he was “personally appalled” by China’s attempt to sink the proposal.

“Some who have defended the Iranian authorities have argued that this is simply a cultural issue,” she said. “Let’s be clear: no culture condones the killing of women and children.”

Amini has remained a powerful symbol of the protests that have posed one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic since the 2009 Green Movement protests drew millions to the streets.

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Click to play video: 'Women, Life, Freedom': EU MEPs cut hair on podium during debate on Iran protests

‘Women, life, freedom’: EU MPs cut hair on podium during debate on Iran protests


At least 426 people were killed and more than 17,400 arrested, according to Iranian human rights activists, a group monitoring the riots.

At least five people were killed during anti-government protests at the funerals of two people killed the day before when Iranian security forces opened fire on demonstrators in a Western Kurdish town on Monday, activists said. Died.

Iran arrests outspoken player during World Cup scrutiny

Iran also arrested a prominent former member of its national football team on Thursday for criticizing the government as authorities grapple with nationwide protests that have overshadowed the competition at the World Cup.

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The semi-official Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported that Voria Ghafouri had been arrested for “insulting the national football team and propaganda against the government.”

Esteghlal’s Voria Ghafouri watches the Persian Gulf Pro League match between Esteghlal and Padide FC at Azadi Stadium in Tehran, Iran on June 21, 2021. Fars and Tasnim semi-official news agencies reported that Ghafouri was arrested on Thursday.

Defodie image by Mohammad Kalamali/Getty Images

Ghafuri, who was not selected for the World Cup, has been an outspoken critic of Iranian authorities throughout his career. and has crushed Western sanctions.

Most recently, he expressed sympathy for the family of a 22-year-old woman who died in Iran’s moral police custody, igniting recent protests. He called for an end to the violent crackdown.


Click to play video: 'Tens of thousands rally in Berlin to support Iranian protesters'

Tens of thousands rally in Berlin to support Iranian protesters


Reports of his arrest came ahead of Friday’s World Cup match between Iran and Wales. , some fans expressed support for the protest.

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Iranian officials have not clarified whether Ghafouri’s activities were a factor in his not being selected for the national team.

Some Iranians actively support their teams at the World Cup and associate them with rulers they see as violent and corrupt. Others argue that the national team, which includes players who have spoken out on social media in solidarity with the protests, represent the people.

The team’s star forward, Sardar Azmon, who has been vocal about the protests online, was on the bench in the opener. In addition to Ghafouri, two other former football stars have been arrested for expressing support for his protest.

Other Iranian athletes have also been caught in the struggle.

Iranian rock climber Ernaz Rekhabi competed at an international competition in South Korea in October without wearing the mandatory headscarf. Despite saying in one interview that the move was “unintentional”, he received a hero’s welcome from protesters on his return to Iran.

Earlier this month, Iran’s football federation threatened to punish the players of its beach soccer team after beating Brazil in an international tournament in Dubai. and celebrated after scoring a goal.



Iran Protests: UN Human Rights Agencies Vote to Investigate Tehran Crackdown

Source link Iran Protests: UN Human Rights Agencies Vote to Investigate Tehran Crackdown

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