Iran is responsible for the "physical violence" that led to the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022 and sparked nationwide protests against the mandatory hijab, its theocracy and its laws, a United Nations (UN) fact-finding mission said today.
Such a harsh condemnation is contained in the initial report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council by the mission responsible for ascertaining the facts regarding the events in Iran. The conclusion in the document is that the actions of the authorities in Tehran constitute "crimes against humanity".
It also found that the Islamic Republic "unnecessarily and disproportionately used lethal force" to quell demonstrations that erupted after Amini died in the custody of Iran's morality police.
It is also alleged that Iranian security forces sexually abused those arrested in the riots.
During months of protests, the authorities in Tehran killed more than 500 people and detained more than 22.000.
The AP has repeatedly reached out to Iranian officials for comment on the commission's findings, but has not received them.
The report is unlikely to change the course Iran's government has taken, now that it is firmly in the hands of Islamic hardliners - after an extremely poor turnout in the election gave them all power in parliament.
However, the report shows that international pressure on Tehran is growing as the West worries about the progress of Iran's nuclear program, the fact that Tehran supplies Russia with weapons for its war against Ukraine, and the harassment and arrests of activists.
Bonus video:
