Iran: No more Killings. No more room for Impunity. Action must be taken now!

23 December, 2022

Islamabad / New Delhi / Stockholm

On 16 September 2022, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman died in the custody of the Iranian police, after having been arrested for “improperly adjusting” her hijab. Even though discontent had already begun to grow in the country before this event, Mahsa Amini became in just a few days, the symbol of the struggle against the oppression of the Iranian regime. An unprecedented nationwide uprising of the Iranian people has since erupted, demanding more justice, accountability, and urgent reforms.

On 15 November, following the disproportionate use of force, killings, and repression faced by protesters, Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) urged the Iranian authorities to put an immediate cessation of all policies and practices repressing the fundamental rights of peaceful demonstrators and citizens in the country. Unfortunately, despite international calls for the Iranian government to respect its international obligations under international law, and to stop using the law of force to stay in power at all costs, the crackdown continues to escalate, while the revolt persists.

At least 500 hundred people had been killed, including children, human rights defenders, artists, and arrests now number in the thousands. But despite the government’s fearful security response, a majority of protesters continue to take risks, starting with the youngest. Yet, arbitrary detention, extrajudicial killings, rape, torture of detainees, and other inhuman acts, have continued to be a state practice since the protests ignited. Iranian authorities took a step further in its brutality, in publicly executing two 23-year-old human rights defenders, Mohsen Shekari, and Majidreza Rahnavard. According to Amnesty International, 20 other individuals would be at high risk of execution in connection with the protests, including 11 who have already been sentenced to death. It has been reported that trials have been conducted in disregard of any due process that would give all possible safeguards to individuals to ensure fair trials and respect for their human rights.

On behalf of the organization, PGA’s President, Hon. Kasthuri Patto, MP (Malaysia), conveyed:

Hon. Kasthuri Patto, MP

Malaysia

The Iranian State bears full responsibility for guaranteeing that human rights and its legal obligations, stemming from international treaties it is a party to, are always upheld. Iran must investigate and prosecute those responsible for serious human rights violations. Justice and accountability are of utmost urgency in light of the deteriorating situation in the country. We urge the authorities in Iran to establish a moratorium on executions and to immediately revoke all death sentences issued for crimes not qualifying as the most serious crimes. Repressing those exercising their right to express themselves freely is a blatant violation of international human rights law. The international community must unite forces and provide a coordinated answer to support the people in Iran.

The 24th of November landmark decision by the United Nations Human Rights Council to establish an independent fact-finding mission in the Islamic Republic of Iran is a significant move towards accountability, which will offer hope and bring justice to all victims. PGA notes that the culture of impunity must not continue prevailing in the country, and perpetrators of gross human rights violations cannot and should no longer continue their brutal campaign with impunity. This mechanism will ensure that evidence from these atrocities will be preserved and used in future criminal proceedings. The recent appointment of three gender experts, Ms. Sara Hossain (Bangladesh), Ms. Shaheen Sardar Ali (Pakistan), and Ms. Viviana Krsticevic (Argentina), and the removal of Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women on 14 December, are commendable steps that will guarantee that the voices and the rights of those more vulnerable, children, girls, and minorities, will be heard and protected.

PGA also expresses concern that young demonstrators have been disproportionately targeted since the beginning of the protests. There have been allegations of Iranian security forces “targeting young women with shotgun fire to their faces, breasts, and genitals,” according to medical reports. The unlawful killing of children as young as 11 sheds light on the authorities’ severeness and deadly way of answering to the ongoing protests. As a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Iran must ensure all individuals’ right to freedom of expression, movement, and assembly, which means that State responses, including arrests and penalties, should always be necessary and proportionate. As already adverted by PGA on numerous occasions, these rights are a cornerstone of democracies. In this regard, PGA Board Member Ms. Ann-Sofie Alm, MP (Sweden), urged for immediate dialogue between the Iranian authorities, its people, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders:

Ms. Ann-Sofie Ahm,MP
Sweden
Rather than choosing to delegitimatize all grievances and requests of the Iranian people by using excessive force and cracking down on protesters with increasing harshness, authorities must dialogue with all parties involved. Protesters need to be treated humanely, and their rights must be protected following international norms and standards. Iran has been party to the Convention on the Rights of the Child since 1994 and must abide by the commitment this entails, including protecting and fulfilling all rights contained therein. In the face of the serious reports detailing the numerous human rights violations that have occurred, we urge for the instauration of thorough, transparent, and impartial investigations and fair trials when these proceeds.

Targeted sanctions on individuals are essential in combating and deterring gross human rights violations. Those imposed by different governments and institutions, including Magnitsky-type sanctions, need to be replicated – but always in ensuring that the impact of the latter does not become a double penalty for the population, including civil society organizations. Furthermore, in view of the Iranian regime’s reprisals against national and foreign institutions and individuals advocating for human rights, including members of parliament, it is of the utmost necessity that the fight for freedom, justice, and accountability will prevail. In that vein, parliamentary action is essential to promote and safeguard the Rule of Law and to build strong and resilient democracies; therefore, as stated in our previous call, we encourage legislators to:

Enact legislation in your country to impose targeted sanctions against those individuals and entities alleged to be responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.
Enact legislation on universal jurisdiction on crimes against humanity and empowering competent authorities to collect evidence, apply the law in respect of Iranian agents and officials who are implementing the current crack-down against peaceful protesters, and implement strategies to facilitate the presence of these alleged perpetrators in your territories so that their impunity can be put to an end.
Adopt countermeasures vis-à-vis the Islamic Republic of Iran that can induce Iranian authorities to stop the repetition of internationally wrongful acts occurring in its territory, such as severe breaches of the ICCPR: proportionate countermeasures should include the deployment of satellite-based internet access for all the provinces and cities of Iran and other measures not implying the use of force designed to create incentives for a peaceful transition in Iran.
Urge your government to guarantee and facilitate the right to seek asylum for individuals fleeing from persecution, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Refugee Convention, the Migrant Workers Convention, and other international human rights instruments.
Urge the government of Iran to ratify relevant human rights treaties to which it is not yet a party and to align its national legislation with them.
Support the establishment of international investigating mechanisms to ensure accountability in Iran and end impunity for grave human rights violations in the country.
Support local civil society organizations in engaging in a dialogue with them, as well as with the Iranian diaspora, to ensure that your response is in line with the need of the Iranian people.
Call on your government to coordinate with the international community and to ensure an international presence during trials to observe them and monitor respect for the right to a fair trial.
Support local civil society organizations in engaging in a dialogue with them, as well as with the Iranian diaspora, to ensure that your response is in line with the need of the Iranian people.
Call on your government to coordinate with the international community, and to ensure an international presence during trials to observe them and monitor respect for the right to a fair trial.