04 April 2024 :
March 8, 2024 - Iran. Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran
Established by the United Nations Human Rights Council in November 2022 in response to the repression of widespread “Women, Life, Freedom” protests, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFMI) presented its first report on March 8, 2024, stating that “many of the serious human rights violations outlined in the present report amount to crimes against humanity.” The report’s recommendations included urging for a halt to all executions and releasing arbitrarily detained prisoners.
Despite a lack of transparency and cooperation from the nation, the report found that as of January 2024 at least 28 people had been sentenced to death in connection to the protests, at least 9 of whom have been executed and at least 6 of whom are awaiting execution. The Mission found consistent violations of defendants’ rights to fair trials and due process, repeated calls from state officials for expedited proceedings, and an absence of investigations into allegations of torture and/or coerced confessions before proceeding with executions. The report states that the 9 executions of protestors “amount[ed] to unlawful and arbitrary deprivation of their right to life and have violated the prohibition against torture and ill-treatment.”
The Mission identified over 100 individuals who have been charged with death-eligible offenses, including crimes which do not meet the international legal threshold of a “most serious” crime (i.e. intentional murder). Javad Rouhi, who was given three death sentences for the crime of apostasy, is one such individual; all death sentences against Mr. Rouhi were overturned, however, Mr. Rouhi subsequently died in custody following credible allegations of torture, one of several instances of deaths in custody following torture.
https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/worldwide-wednesday-international-roundup-afghanistan-democratic-republic-of-congo-india-iran-nigeria-pakistan-russia-saudi-arabia-and-united-states
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/03/iran-institutional-discrimination-against-women-and-girls-enabled-human
