Thank you, Special Rapporteur Rehman, for your stark overview of the dire human rights situation in Iran.
We deplore the abhorrent death of Mahsa Amini while in police custody. Mahsa’s death is an affront to human rights. Iranian women should not be subject to arrest or detention, let alone violence and brutal beatings, for how they choose to dress. We condemn the use of violence against peaceful protestors and support all Iranians who are peacefully demonstrating to secure their human rights and fundamental freedoms in the face of horrific repression. We agree with your assessment that an independent investigation is needed.
We also condemn the Internet shutdowns and efforts to limit Iranians’ ability to communicate as well as its targeted online harassment of protestors. We align ourselves with and applaud the Freedom Online Coalition’s Joint Statement.
The United States applauds the courage of Iranian women and girls and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their bravery.
Sadly, the outrageous violence against Iranians, perpetrated by their government, is not new. Alarming reports of security forces firing indiscriminately at protesters in Kurdish cities like Sanandaj, and heavily Sunni areas like Zahedan only add to a longstanding history of abuse of members of Iran’s religious and ethnic minority communities.
We also share your concerns about the significant uptick in oppression against Baha’is since April 2022. We stand with members of religious minority groups of all faiths and strongly condemn the reported unlawful arrests, home raids, and forced disappearances outlined in your report. Every person should be able to exercise the right to freedom of religion or belief.
The United States deplores the continued practice of Iranian authorities engaging in transnational repression, including by assassinating, kidnapping, or otherwise seeking to suppress, harass, surveil or harm perceived critics and their families, including outside of Iran’s borders, a practice that goes back decades.
Our question please: how should the international community promote accountability for Mahsa Amini’s death in the absence of any impartial authority in Iran?
Original source can be found here.
