The UN Human Rights Council decided on Thursday to extend an independent international fact-finding mission’s investigation into Iran’s violent crackdown on the protests that began in 2022.
With 24 votes in favor, eight against, and 15 abstentions in the 47-member council, the mandate of the council’s special rapporteur on Iran, Javaid Rehman, was also prolonged.
The decision to extend Rehman’s mandate was made to oversee the ongoing human rights situation in Iran comprehensively, covering civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights.
The fact-finding mission will continue its work to ensure that the substantial evidence of human rights violations linked to the protests, particularly concerning women and children, is thoroughly documented, verified, consolidated, and safeguarded.
The protests in Iran were triggered by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, in September 2022. Amini had been detained for allegedly breaching the strict dress code for women based on Islamic sharia law.
Despite the UN’s efforts, Tehran has not cooperated with Rehman or the fact-finding mission, denying them entry into Iran.
The resolution passed by the UN appealed to Iran to collaborate fully with the rapporteur and international investigators, granting them unrestricted access to the country and providing all necessary information to carry out their tasks.
