\n
<\/p>\n
Volker T\u00fcrk\u00a0urged the authorities\u00a0to\u00a0immediately\u00a0halt\u00a0all forms of violence and repression against peaceful protestors and\u00a0to restore\u00a0full access to the internet and telecommunications.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe killing of peaceful demonstrators must stop, and\u00a0the labelling of protesters as \u2018terrorists\u2019 to justify violence against them is unacceptable<\/strong>,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Since 28 December,\u00a0citizens\u00a0have taken to the streets\u00a0in all provinces of Iran, initially to voice their frustration over record inflation, soaring food prices and\u00a0the\u00a0sudden collapse\u00a0of the national currency.\u00a0<\/p>\n Mr.\u00a0T\u00fcrk\u00a0recalled that protests also took place in 2022, with broad sections of the population demanding fundamental change in how the country was being governed, \u201cand\u00a0once again, the authorities\u2019 reaction is to inflict brutal force to repress legitimate demands for change<\/strong>.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n He said\u00a0\u201cthis cycle of horrific violence cannot continue. The Iranian people and their demands for fairness, equality and justice must be heard.\u201d\u00a0Additionally,\u00a0all killings, violence against protesters, and other human rights violations must be\u00a0investigated\u00a0and those responsible held to account.\u00a0<\/p>\n He noted that several hospitals are\u00a0reportedly overwhelmed\u00a0by the number of casualties\u00a0\u2013\u00a0which\u00a0include\u00a0children. Internet shutdowns have hampered verification, though some telephone services were partially restored.<\/p>\n Reports\u00a0indicate\u00a0that members of security forces have also been killed.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt is also extremely worrying to see public statements by some judicial officials indicating the possibility of the\u00a0death penalty being used against protesters through expedited judicial proceedings<\/strong>\u201d\u00a0he\u00a0added.\u00a0<\/p>\n He noted that since 8 January,\u00a0the\u00a0Iranian authorities have imposed a nationwide internet shutdown, affecting\u00a0peoples\u2019\u00a0rights to freedom of expression and access to information, disrupting emergency and lifesaving\u00a0services\u00a0and obstructing independent human rights monitoring.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIranians have the right to demonstrate peacefully,\u201d said Mr.\u00a0T\u00fcrk.\u202f\u201cTheir grievances need to be heard and addressed, and not\u00a0instrumentalised\u00a0by anyone.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Separately, a group of independent human rights experts\u00a0urged Iran to break the cycle of violence and create space for dialogue.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe use of lethal force against peaceful protesters, arbitrary arrests \u2013\u00a0including of\u00a0children \u2013 and attacks on medical facilities represent\u00a0clear violations of international human rights law<\/strong>,\u201d they\u00a0said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The reported\u00a0lethal and excessive\u00a0use of\u00a0force\u00a0by security forces in recent days has included\u00a0firing directly\u00a0on\u00a0largely peaceful\u00a0protesters using\u00a0rifles,\u00a0shotguns loaded with metal pellets, water\u00a0cannons\u00a0and\u00a0tear gas,\u00a0in addition to\u00a0beatings.\u00a0<\/p>\n Furthermore, accounts also\u00a0indicate\u00a0raids on hospitals, the use of tear gas inside medical facilities, and\u00a0attempts\u00a0to arrest wounded protesters, while more\u00a0than 2,600\u00a0people have\u00a0reportedly been\u00a0detained,\u00a0including schoolchildren.\u00a0<\/p>\nDemands for change being repressed<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
Calls for death penalty \u2018extremely worrying\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n
End the\u00a0violence\u00a0and\u00a0promote dialogue: rights experts<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n