Report of the independent international fact-finding mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran (A/HRC/55/67) [EN/AR/RU/ZH]

Human Rights Council
Fifty-fifth session
26 February–5 April 2024
Agenda item 4
Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention

Summary

The present report, submitted to the Human Rights Council pursuant to resolution S-35/1, contains the findings of the independent international fact-finding mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran under international human rights law and, as applicable, on crimes under international law. In the report, the mission outlines its findings concerning the protests that began on 16 September 2022 in the context of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, especially in respect to women and children. It includes its findings on the death in custody of Jina Mahsa Amini and on other serious human rights violations committed against protesters and others, including on the use of force, arrests and detentions, treatment in detention, digital space and legal proceedings related to the protests. It concludes with an assessment of State responsibility for the violations found and recommendations, including on accountability and reparations.

I. Introduction

1. In its resolution S-35/1, the Human Rights Council established the independent international fact-finding mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran, to thoroughly and independently investigate alleged human rights violations in the Islamic Republic of Iran related to the protests that began on 16 September 2022, especially with respect to women and children; establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged violations; and collect, consolidate and analyse the evidence of such violations and preserve that evidence, in view of cooperation in any legal proceedings. Pursuant to resolution S-35/1, the mission produced the present report for the fifty-fifth session of the Council and an extended report, issued as a conference room paper, which elaborates on the facts, legal determinations and recommendations.

2. The Human Rights Council urged the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to cooperate fully with the mission, allow it unhindered access to the country and provide it with the information necessary to fulfil its mandate. The mission regrets the Government’s lack of cooperation, including on access to the country and in providing information, and its failure to respond to the 20 letters sent by the mission as of 22 January 2024. While acknowledging its engagement with the Government-appointed Special Committee to investigate the 2022 unrest, the mission regrets the lack of any substantive response.

3. The mission also faced constraints because of the restrictions imposed by the Government on online communications, affecting landlines and mobile networks, heightened electronic surveillance, and harassment and intimidation of victims, witnesses and their families inside and outside the country. Those measures led to pervasive fear, deterring many people from engaging with the mission.

4. Nevertheless, the mission collected sufficient information and evidence to establish facts and make findings that violations of international human rights law had been committed, as well as crimes under international law.