Iran: “The killing of peaceful protesters must stop,” says the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Volker Turk He urged the authorities To immediately stop all forms of violence and repression against peaceful demonstrators and restore full access to the Internet and communications.

“The killing of peaceful protesters must stop Calling protesters “terrorists” to justify violence against them is unacceptableHe said.

Demands for change are suppressed

Since December 28, citizens have taken to the streets in all of Iran’s provinces, initially to express their frustration over record inflation, rising food prices, and the sudden collapse of the national currency.

Mr. Türk noted that protests also broke out in 2022, with large sectors of the population demanding a radical change in how the country is governed. Once again, the authorities’ response is to use brutal force to suppress legitimate demands for change“.

“This cycle of horrific violence cannot continue. The Iranian people and their demands for fairness, equality and justice must be heard,” he said. In addition, all killings, violence against protesters and other human rights violations must be investigated and those responsible held accountable.

Demand for death penalty ‘deeply disturbing’

He pointed out that many hospitals are overcrowded with the number of victims, including children. An internet shutdown hampered the verification process, although some phone services were partially restored.

Reports indicate that members of the security forces were also killed.

“It is also deeply troubling to see public statements by some judicial officials indicating the possibility of this happening Use the death penalty against protesters through swift judicial proceduresHe added.

He noted that since January 8, Iranian authorities have imposed a nationwide internet shutdown, affecting people’s rights to freedom of expression and access to information, disrupting emergency and life-saving services, and obstructing independent human rights monitoring.

“Iranians have the right to demonstrate peacefully,” Mr. Türk said. “Their complaints should be heard and addressed, and not exploited by anyone.”

Ending violence and promoting dialogue: human rights experts

Separately, a group of independent human rights experts urged Iran to break the cycle of violence and make room for dialogue.

“The use of lethal force against peaceful demonstrators, arbitrary arrests – including of children – and attacks on medical facilities are examples of this.” Clear violations of international human rights law“Hmm He said.

Lethal and excessive use of force by security forces in recent days has included direct shooting at largely peaceful protesters using rifles, shotguns filled with metal pellets, water cannons and tear gas, as well as beatings.

Furthermore, accounts also indicate raids on hospitals, the use of tear gas inside medical facilities, and attempts to arrest injured protesters, while more than 2,600 people, including schoolchildren, were arrested.

Regarding reports of death sentences, experts warned that “if they are carried out, This exacerbates reported unlawful killings of protesters by security forces in the streets and state-sanctioned executions“.

The four experts are all special rapporteurs appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council In Geneva. Their individual mandates cover issues such as the human rights situation in Iran and the promotion of the rights to freedom of opinion, peaceful assembly and association throughout the world.

They work on a voluntary basis and are independent of any government or organization, including the United Nations. They are not UN staff and do not receive salaries for their work.