(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 24. The Iranian
Government needs to end violence against peaceful protesters,
Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said at the
35th special session of the Human Rights Council on the
deteriorating human rights situation in Iran, trend reports.
According to Turk, the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old
girl that was arrested on September 13 for wearing a hijab
incorrectly, caused a wave of protests across the country.
“I have a deep admiration for the people of Iran. It pains me to
see what is happening in the country. We have seen waves of
protests over the past few weeks that have been met with violence
and repression. The unnecessary and disproportional use of force
has to come to an end. The use of weapons to defeat protesters is a
flagrant violation of international law. The old methods of those
who are in power simply do not work, in fact, they only aggravate
the situation. We are now in a full-fledged human rights crisis,”
he said.
As he noted, 14,000 people, including children, were arrested
during the protests. University students were summoned for
questioning, threatened, and suspended from their studies. Human
rights defenders, journalists, and lawyers were also
prosecuted.
“Now, 21 persons could be sentenced to death and six had already
received the death penalty. I urge the government and those in
power to listen and acknowledge the deep-seated social economic and
political grievance that has been building up. Women and girls, as
well as young people, must be able to feel safe,” Turk added.
The UN High Commissioner also urged for an independent and
impartial investigation of the protests, the immediate release of
those who have been detained, and the establishment of a moratorium
on the death penalty.
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