Demonstrators at a protest over economic conditions in Iran, November 2019
UPDATE, SEPT 6:
The UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, has told the General Assembly of his “shock” at the use of force against protesters last November.
In his third report to the Assembly, Rehman wrote:
The Special Rapporteur expresses his shock at the unprecedented use of excessive and lethal force by State security forces during the November 2019 protests, including by the police, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Basij militia.
The report reinforced the detailed assessment by Amnesty International of at least 304 people slain by security forces in 37 cities from November 15 to 19. Among the victims were 23 children and 10 women.
Rehman also stressed that Iranian paramilitary and police shot to kill: “The pattern of shooting at vital organs, established by eyewitness accounts, video footage and the documented causes of deaths, demonstrates that security forces were ‘shooting to kill’ or with reckless disregard as to whether their actions caused death.”
He criticized authorities for not announcing official figures on injuries and deaths, and said the actual toll may be far higher than 304 fatalities.
Rehman also cited the torture, abuse, and lengthy prison sentences imposed on protesters.
ORIGINAL ENTRY, SEPT 3: Amnesty International has published an 80-page report documenting mass arrests, disappearances, and torture by Iran’s authorities after mass protests in November 2019 over economic conditions.
The five-day protests across the country were sparked by the Government’s sudden increase of 50% to 200% in petrol prices.
Amnesty has detailed the killing of at least 304 demonstrators, many shot at close range and as they fled, by security forces. Three Iranian officials spoke of 1,500 people — marchers, security forces, and bystanders — who were slain, although the Government only acknowledged 230 fatalities in June, 6 1/2 months after the demonstrations.
Amnesty’s latest report considers the arrest of more than 500 of the 7,000 men, women, and children, as young as 10 years old, who were detained. It is based on interviews with 66 individuals inside Iran and 10 outside the country: 60 victims of arbitrary arrest, enforced disappearance, torture and other ill-treatment or their relatives or close acquaintances; two protesters who were in hiding; and 14 witnesses and investigators.
Supporting material includes text and voice messages and videos from several hundred people inside Iran, including protesters and bystanders, family members, friends or acquaintances of detainees, lawyers, medical workers, and local journalists and activists. Further videos, court records and legal documents, official statements, and reports by independent human rights organizations provided verification.
Iranian officials, including President Hassan Rouhani and judiciary Ebrahim Raisi, did not reply to Amnesty’s request for a response.
Mass Arrests and Torture: “It Will Be Like A Dog Dying”
While many of the arrests took place during the protests, some people were seized from their homes, workplaces, and hospitals. in the weeks that followed. Some were bystanders.
Others were student activists, journalists, and human rights defenders.
Detainees were beaten and their families were harassed, with some relatives also arrested as authorities sought “confessions”. At least three of the detainees have now been sentenced to death; prison terms ranged from one month to 10 years, as well as flogging.
Many detainees, including political prisoners, were held incommunicado for days, weeks, or months in undisclosed locations. Authorities refused to give information to families of victims or detainees, in some cases threatening the relatives with arrest.
Evidence for the “crimes”, beyond participation in protests, including political songs, filming the demonstrations or sharing videos on social media; attending memorial ceremonies and inviting members of the public to join them; and expressuons of sympathy for “martyrs”.
Iranian officials have accused detainees of arson and destruction of public property, but Amnesty found no presentation of credible evidence in any of the cases.
Victims spoke of “being hooded or blindfolded, punched, kicked, flogged, beaten with sticks, rubber hosepipes, batons and cables, suspended and/or forced into holding painful stress positions for prolonged periods, deprived of sufficient food and potable water, and placed in prolonged solitary confinement, sometimes for weeks or even months”.
Obtaining information from primary sources on interrogations, Amnesty also documents security and intelligence officers and prison officials stripping detainees and spraying them with cold water; subjecting them, including children, to extreme temperatures and/or bombardment of light or sound over a sustained period; forcible extraction of nails from fingers or toes; pepper spraying; forced administration of chemical substances and electric shocks; waterboarding; mock executions; and threats of rape of the detainee and their family members.spouses; and threats to rape detainees or their family members.
One victim summarized:
My interrogators tortured me in all sorts of ways….They told me, “If you die, it will be like a dog dying. It’s not important to us if you live or die.”
The pain was horrific. At one point, I was just wishing to die so that I would be free of the pain and torture. Human life is not important to them.
You are master of sophistry, Dr.Lucas.
The report does not publicly disclose ANY documentary,. photographic or video evidence at all (except for an SMS message warning people to stay home). Accordingly, there is no way to evaluate the claims of torture and physical/psychological abuse in detention or unfair trials. We are not given any information on the identities of those interviewed by Amnesty who simply urge readers of the report to believe the alleged testimony.
I would draw attention to an inconsistency in Amnesty’s arguments. It claims that the judicial process was biased and unfair, but cites a man called ABOLFAZL KARIMI who alleges he was tortured and beaten in custody before being sentenced to 15 years for pubic disturbance and vandalism. However, on appeal, his sentence was reduced to just 9 months.
There are many other examples in the report of persons arrested being tried and acquitted of all charges.
On page 20, we read about the case of an activist called SHAHIN BARZEGAR who was tried and convicted of two charges of acting against national security and spreading propaganda but who was acquitted of one and had his sentence for the other commuted to a fine.
On page 28, we learn of the case of SEPIDEH GHOLIAN who was tried for “disrupting public order” BUT then acquitted of this charge.
I am, therefore, confused. If there was no due process, then how were these persons acquitted or have their sentences reduced on appeal?
Just because someone comes forward to make a claim does not mean there is any truth to it. Many women claim to have been raped each year who have not been violated. Also, note that Amnesty tries to minimize the violence of the “protesters” on page 14: “Although most of the demonstrations started peacefully, in some instances, some protesters turned to stone-throwing against security forces or engaged in acts of vandalism.” That is a gross under-statement of the extent of the arson, looting and shooting that took place during the 5 days.
Rastgoo,
Amnesty provides its methodology and evidence for its documentation. You ignore it and failed to answer my question re which of the numerous pieces of evidence you are challenging.
Instead, you dismiss all evidence *and* offer a misogynist slander at the same time: “Just because someone comes forward to make a claim does not mean there is any truth to it. Many women claim to have been raped each year who have not been violated.”
Your attempt to salvage this ignores an obvious: it is possible to be tortured *and* to have your sentence reduced on appeal at a later point.
We can pin this.
S.
so we can pin this.
“In Iran, many “human rights groups” are linked to ethnic separatist movements opposed to the Islamic Republic and so are not impartial or reliable sources.”
And, you are impartial?
“Supporting material includes text and voice messages and videos from several hundred people inside Iran, including protesters and bystanders”
There are a number of problems with this report:
1. There is no photographic or video evidence of the alleged physical injuries presented whatsoever (just artistic recreations).
2. Amnesty International admits that it has “withheld the names of sources interviewed” and that “the report does not specify the exact time, location or means of communication for the interviews conducted” with those claiming to have been abused. As such, the testimonies cannot be scrutinized and verified to ascertain their accuracy and reliability.
3. The information provided was sent through two telephone “hotlines” set up by Amnesty that allowed anyone to come forward. Amnesty did not check the political affiliation and provenance of those sending it. In Iran, many “human rights groups” are linked to ethnic separatist movements opposed to the Islamic Republic and so are not impartial or reliable sources.
4. No forensic/legal documents are actually provided except for a text sent out allegedly by the prosecutor’s office of Karaj, Alborz province, that warns certain people from taking part in illegal protests.
Rastgoo,
Let’s put aside your sweeping and largely irrelevant declarations. Which one of the 66 interviews, hundreds of items of textual and video testimony and evidence, legal documents and court records, and supporting videos and statements are you challenging?
Cheers!
S.