Iran has announced that it does not recognize the independent information-gathering mission approved by the United Nations to examine possible violations of fundamental freedoms during the protests sparked by the death of a young woman in September. The government stated that it views the move as unnecessary and an infringement on national sovereignty.
The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the creation of any mechanism to review the events of the past two months and dismissed the mission established for this purpose. Tehran emphasized that it would not accept foreign interference in its internal affairs.
The UN Human Rights Council had convened a meeting previously to consider a mission aimed at collecting and analyzing evidence of human rights violations related to the crackdown on protests that have reportedly left more than 300 people dead, including 40 minors, and has seen around 15,000 individuals detained.
The resolution authorizing this investigation was adopted with 25 votes in favor, 16 abstentions, and six votes against. One of the dissenting voices came from China, which had attempted to remove language referring to the creation of the investigative mission.
Iran’s rejection
Iranian officials condemned the decision and defended the measures taken to control the protests, arguing that Western nations had pressured the UN Human Rights Council. They called for an end to what they described as interference from abroad.
The Foreign Ministry asserted that Iranian security forces responded with restraint, noting that dozens of police and security personnel were killed and thousands of people were injured during the demonstrations.
Authorities also asserted that detainees were treated with consideration and that authorities showed restraint and tolerance, particularly toward women, throughout the process.
Tehran singled out Germany, a key supporter of the resolution, accusing it of making a historical mistake driven by political objectives and misreporting. The comment reflected a broader sense that some nations were pursuing a political agenda rather than focused on human rights concerns.
Iran argued that supporting human rights would be undermined if it became a tool for political goals and that such support should not come at the expense of sovereignty or stability.
Police repression
The protests began after the death of a 22-year-old Kurdish woman and quickly expanded into broader calls for systemic changes in the country established in 1979. The authorities have responded with a strong police crackdown against the demonstrations, according to the Oslo-based organization Iran Human Rights, which tracks casualties and abuses.
The organization reports a rising death toll, with hundreds killed in the confrontations. In addition, more than 15,000 people have been arrested, and a significant portion have faced charges related to participating in the protests.
Several defendants have already been sentenced to death as part of the prosecutions connected to the unrest. The government has accused the United States, Israel, and several European countries of trying to provoke civil strife to destabilize the country through support for the protests.
Some Iranian media outlets have alleged that European nations, including Germany and France, played roles in fostering the demonstrations by providing support or encouraging activity through various channels.