Photographs of eight purported victims amid water protests in southwest Iran, July 2021
UPDATE, JULY 25:
Iran has been angered by UN criticism of its response to protests over water shortages in the southwest of the country.
The UN’s head of human rights, Michelle Bachelet, said on Friday that “shooting and arresting people will simply add to the anger and desperation” over the “catastrophic” situation.
I am extremely concerned about the deaths and injuries that have occurred over the past week, as well as the widespread arrests and detention.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh responded Saturday that Bachelet’s comments were “false accusations and incorrect information”. He claimed the Government is pursuing “great efforts” to “relieve the suffering of the population”.
President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday that “certain problems in Khuzestan province must still be quickly resolved”, repeating that people have “the right to protest”.
The Revolutionary Guards proclaimed that they will take control of the situation, with commander Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami visiting Khuzestan Province.
ORIGINAL ENTRY, JULY 24:
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch each conclude that Iran’s security personnel are using unlawful and excessive force against protests over water shortages.
Backing claims by activists, Amnesty said it has confirmed the deaths of at least eight protesters and bystanders, including a teenage boy, with security forces using live ammunition and birdshot “to crush mostly peaceful protests”.
The organization, drawing on video footage and witnesses, says “deadly automatic weapons, shotguns with inherently indiscriminate ammunition, and tear gas” have been employed.
Amnesty posted the names and photographs of the eight people slain.
The organization’s Diana Eltahawy said:
We have called time and time again for an end to the systematic impunity that continues to perpetuate cycles of bloodshed, as seen in the brutal crackdown on protests in Khuzestan. The UN Human Rights Council must urgently establish a mechanism to collect and analyse evidence of the most serious crimes under international law to facilitate fair and independent criminal proceedings
Human Rights Watch issued a statement with similar conclusions, calling on the Iranian Government to “transparently investigate” the deaths: “Iranian authorities have a very troubling record of responding with bullets to protesters frustrated with mounting economic difficulties and deteriorating living conditions.”
Iranian officials have acknowledged only five fatalities — four civilians and a police officer — and claimed that all were killed by “rioters”.
See also President Rouhani — Iranians “Have Right” to Protest Lack of Water
The Supreme Leader finally said on Friday that the protests are justified: “People showed their discontent, but we cannot have any complaint since the issue of water in the hot climate of Khuzestan is not a minor issue.”
He called on Iranian authorities to deal with long-standing issues over water and sewage, “If these recommendations had received sufficient attention, we would surely not have these problems now.”
The protests began on July 15 over long-standing issues with water supply, exacerbated by drought and dams affecting provision through southwest Iran.
Just so you are aware, Scott, Amnesty claimed 5 protesters had died in West and East Azerbaijan provinces during the 2019 riots: https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/iran-protester-death-toll-reaches-least-143
These deaths are not reported in its final report despite the claimed death toll rising from 143 to 304: https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/MDE1323082020ENGLISH.PDF
This is incontrovertible proof that Amnesty’s sources are bogus in many cases.
Video footage of armed rioters firing weapons: https://www.farsnews.ir/khuzestan/news/14000429000361
Some questions to Amnesty’s “research” team?
1. What constitutes “unlawful” force given that Amnesty admits that the protests have not been 100% peaceful (‘mostly peaceful’)?
2. What are the names and ages of those confirmed to have been killed?
3. In their statement, Amnesty claimed that the ‘sound’ of automatic weapons could be heard and concluded it must have been from the security forces. How do they know it did not come from armed groups and individuals who have such weapons?
These excerpts from the Amnesty’s statement are telling:
“Although Amnesty International was not able to confirm the identities of the shooters in all videos, in some of the footage, protesters at the scene or those filming can be heard saying that security forces are firing toward protesters or into the air.”
So none of the videos actually show the security forces firing on protesters, and when this is claimed, they are stated as firing warning shots into the air.
“In all but two video clips reviewed by Amnesty International, protesters are unarmed and clearly pose no threat to life”
So, by simple logic, in two clips the protesters were armed.
Varharan,
The names and ages of the dead are given in the Amnesty report. Do show some respect for them and stop parroting the PR lines of the Revolutionary Guards.
Thanks,
S.
Scott, if mullahs and their surrogates had any respect for human beings(other than their own offspring), 42 years after the revolution people would have jobs, water, electricity, vaccines, any prospect for decent life, and children would not dive into garbage bins for scraps to fill their stomachs. Do you really still not see this, who these people are? What will it take to see what this regime is? What people are deprived of today are what they had 42 years ago in abundance.
I don’t see any ages given. And, sorry, but I question the veracity of Amnesty’s ” information obtained from informed sources” especially when other human rights groups still have these cases under review: https://www.en-hrana.org/protests-in-khuzestan-102-detained-and-10-killed-citizens-identified
“Amnesty said it, I believe it, that settles it” is not a valid argument.