UN Expresses Concern On Iran Situation Criticizing Regime Crackdown

A man targeted by a shotgun 'bird shot' shell in Iran in September, frequently used by security forces
A man targeted by a shotgun 'bird shot' shell in Iran in September, frequently used by security forces

The United Nations has once again denounced the Islamic Republic’s crackdown on mass protests that have been rocking Iran for over two months.

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said Tuesday that the rising number of deaths from protests in Iran, including those of two children at the weekend, and the hardening of the response by security forces, underline the critical situation in the country.

“We urge your authorities to address the people's demands for equality, dignity and rights instead of using unnecessary or disproportionate force to suppress the protests,” said a spokesperson for UN human rights chief at a Geneva press briefing.

Iran has been gripped by nationwide protests since the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in morality police custody on September 16 after she was arrested for wearing clothes deemed "inappropriate".

The United Nations’ top rights body will hold an urgent meeting this week to consider launching an international probe into the deadly clampdown on protests in Iran.

The UN Human Rights Council is due to host a special session on Thursday on "the deteriorating human rights situation", following a request by Germany and Iceland.

At least 378 people, including 47 children, have been killed in the crackdown since Amini's death, according to the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR). Other human rights monitors say the number of protesters killed has surpassed 400.