Survivors of Iran’s protest crackdown demand justice from UN

Survivors of the Iranian government’s repression of the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom movement have voiced a plea for truth, justice, and accountability to members of the UN-mandated fact finding mission on Iran.

At a recent consultation in Germany, attendees shared testimonies and called for international support to address human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed during and after the protests.

“I don’t want to imagine a future where we see the perpetrators of these crimes posting on Instagram. Perpetrators need to be held accountable,” said one of the survivors whose identity was withheld for safety concerns.

While some survivors demanded justice for crimes committed, many called for systemic reform. “The law is being used as a weapon against us,” said another participant, emphasizing the need for legal reform to eliminate discrimination against women and minorities.

Participants also highlighted the courage of those inside Iran who supported protesters, including medical professionals and lawyers, often at great personal risk.

The UN Fact Finding Mission on Iran was established by the UN Human Rights Council in November 2022 to investigate abuses in Iran following the death of Jina Mahsa Amini in custody for violating the country’s mandatory hijab rules.

The nationwide protests sparked by her death were met with a crackdown that left countless victims of arbitrary detention, torture, and gender-based violence, including children and those blinded or severely injured by security forces.

Participants at the consultation included Iranians who had fled persecution and sought protection in Germany. Parents who lost loved ones in the protests described enduring repression, including denial of the right to mourn. They shared accounts of pervasive surveillance and judicial harassment in Iran that frustrate efforts for accountability.

“In this hearing, survivors - including children, and young women and men - spoke of their priorities for truth, justice, accountability and reparations,” said Sara Hossain, Chair of the Fact-Finding Mission in a press release on Wednesday.

The survivors welcomed the Fact-Finding Mission’s ongoing efforts but voiced disappointment at the lack of international action to pressure Iran into complying with its human rights obligations.

The Mission, which has gathered thousands of pieces of evidence, is preparing a roadmap for truth, justice, and reparations to present to the UN Human Rights Council in 2025. Viviana Krsticevic, a member of the Mission, highlighted plans for actionable recommendations, including measures for victim rehabilitation and accountability.

Shaheen Sardar Ali, another Mission member, emphasized the courage of the survivors and those who supported them inside Iran, such as medical professionals and lawyers, despite significant risks. “Their voices remind us of the continued need for solidarity and support,” Ali said.

Escalating repression and global condemnation

Amid these efforts, Iran’s human rights record continues to draw global criticism. A joint statement from 18 human rights organizations condemned the recent death sentences handed down to Kurdish political prisoner Varisheh Moradi and humanitarian worker Pakhshan Azizi.

The organizations accused Iran of violating their rights to fair trials and extracting forced confessions under torture.

“These women, with their determination and courage, have initiated a new chapter in the struggle for freedom and equality,” the statement read, warning that their executions would further galvanize resistance against the Iranian government.

The organizations also noted that since the start of the protests, the Iranian government has escalated executions to instill fear, targeting women and Kurdish communities disproportionately. This systemic repression, the statement argued, underscores the urgent need for international action to hold Iran accountable for its human rights abuses.

The statement has been signed by organizations and individuals including PEN America, the Kurdistan Human Rights Network, the Ahwaz Human Rights Organization, the Baluch Activists Campaign, the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran, United4Iran, and Iran Prison Atlas.

Iran has experienced a significant surge in executions in 2024, with at least 711 individuals executed by mid-November, marking a substantial increase from previous years. This escalation has drawn widespread condemnation from international organizations.

These actions have intensified calls from the international community for Iran to impose a moratorium on the death penalty and adhere to its human rights obligations.