Iranian authorities have failed to investigate serious human rights violations committed during and after the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests and continue to shield those responsible, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Tuesday.
Marking the third anniversary of the death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, HRW said Iran had ignored findings by a UN fact-finding mission that concluded last year’s crackdown amounted to crimes against humanity, including murder, torture and sexual violence.
“The victims and their families who suffered brutal violence at the hands of Iranian authorities have no prospects for justice, as those who should deliver redress are themselves implicated in violations and crimes,” said Bahar Saba, HRW’s senior Iran researcher. “Countries that can prosecute such cases should seek every opportunity to do so.”
HRW said Iranian courts have executed at least a dozen men linked to the protests after unfair trials, most recently Mehran Bahramian on September 6, following allegations of torture to extract confessions.
It added that compulsory hijab rules -- which led to Amini’s death -- remain in force and are enforced with measures including arbitrary arrests, denial of services, vehicle confiscations and surveillance technologies.
The group said many survivors of the crackdown have fled abroad, often facing medical complications, psychological trauma and harassment of relatives still in Iran. Survivors interviewed by HRW vowed to continue seeking justice, despite threats.
HRW urged foreign governments to use universal jurisdiction to pursue cases against Iranian officials and to provide protection and humanitarian assistance to victims stranded in neighboring states.
