The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Friday expressed her serious concerns over Iran’s lack of transparency about human casualties and the treatment of prisoners and detainees during and after the nationwide protests in November.
The high commissioner said she is “extremely concerned about their physical treatment, violations of their right to due process, and the possibility that a significant number of them may be charged with offences that carry the death penalty, in addition to the conditions under which they are held.”
Iranian people in more than 150 cities across the country took the streets in mid-November, protesting over fuel price hikes.
According to Amnesty International, more than 200 people were killed and thousands were wounded since the protest stared. The government’s brutal crackdown has also resulted in 7000 arrests.
Sources inside Iran told Avatoday on Sunday that security forces are still arresting people in the Kurdish cities in relation to the mass protests.
“In such circumstances, with so many reported deaths, it is essential the authorities act with far greater transparency,” Bachelet said.
“They must undertake prompt, independent and impartial investigations into all violations that have taken place, including the killing of protesters and reported deaths and ill-treatment in custody. And those responsible must be held accountable. There appear to be multiple violations of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Iran has ratified and is obliged to uphold,” she added.
Iranian security forces responded to the protests with water cannon, tear gas, batons, and in some cases live ammunition against unarmed demonstrators who posed no imminent threat of death or serious injury. According to reports, members of the Basij militia and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) were involved in shooting protestors.
