London: Iran’s government And security forces committed “crimes against humanity” in the suppression of massive nationwide protests in 2019, according to an international panel of lawyers investigating action concluded on Friday,
The Iran Atrocities (Aban) Tribunal, convened by various human rights groups, heard evidence from more than 250 witnesses as it investigated whether the Iranian regime broke international law in response to the demonstrations.
Rarely seen in Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and being repeated across the country in recent weeks, protests erupted across the country in November 2019 after a sudden rise in fuel prices.
Activists say authorities managed to take control only after a brutal crackdown, according to Amnesty International, leaving at least 304 People Dead in a deliberate policy of shooting at protesters.
The London tribunal said expert evidence suggests the actual number of casualties could be much higher and possibly as high as 1,515.
The tribunal’s six legal experts summed up their decision, saying, “The panel found unanimously … beyond a reasonable doubt that the Iranian government and security forces designed and implemented a plan to commit crimes against humanity.”
It found various branches of the regime – from the Interior Ministry to the feared Basij militia – organized murder, imprisonment, forced disappearances, torture and sexual violence to suppress protests and hide their crimes.
The Iran Atrocities (Aban) Tribunal, convened by various human rights groups, heard evidence from more than 250 witnesses as it investigated whether the Iranian regime broke international law in response to the demonstrations.
Rarely seen in Iran after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and being repeated across the country in recent weeks, protests erupted across the country in November 2019 after a sudden rise in fuel prices.
Activists say authorities managed to take control only after a brutal crackdown, according to Amnesty International, leaving at least 304 People Dead in a deliberate policy of shooting at protesters.
The London tribunal said expert evidence suggests the actual number of casualties could be much higher and possibly as high as 1,515.
The tribunal’s six legal experts summed up their decision, saying, “The panel found unanimously … beyond a reasonable doubt that the Iranian government and security forces designed and implemented a plan to commit crimes against humanity.”
It found various branches of the regime – from the Interior Ministry to the feared Basij militia – organized murder, imprisonment, forced disappearances, torture and sexual violence to suppress protests and hide their crimes.