UN Special Rapporteur Calls for International Mechanism to Probe Atrocity Crimes in Iran

The Iranian government continues to deny these “atrocity crimes,” and the perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

A UN Special Rapporteur has emphasized the need for an international mechanism to investigate and prosecute those responsible for “atrocity crimes” in Iran, including the extrajudicial killing of thousands of arbitrarily arrested prisoners during a crackdown on political dissent in the 1980s.

Javaid Rehman, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated in his final findings before his mandate ends on 31 July, that the summary, arbitrary, and extrajudicial executions during 1981-1982 and in 1988 amounted to crimes against humanity, including murder and extermination, as well as genocide. These executions involved women—some reportedly raped before being executed—and many children. Crimes against humanity also included imprisonment, torture, and enforced disappearances.

“The Bahá’ís were targeted with genocidal intent, and the persecution, targeting, and victimization of religious, ethnic, and linguistic minorities and political opponents continued with complete impunity during, and since, the first decade of the establishment of the Islamic Republic in 1979,” Rehman stated.

In his final report, the Special Rapporteur called for an investigative and accountability mechanism to conduct impartial and transparent investigations under international law and to preserve evidence for future criminal prosecutions. “The continued concealment of the fate of thousands of political opponents and the whereabouts of their remains amounts to the crime against humanity of enforced disappearance,” Rehman noted.

“I have observed the failure to ensure justice and accountability in Iran and how this impacts the families of the victims and the current human rights situation in the country,” he added.

The Iranian government continues to deny these “atrocity crimes,” and the perpetrators have not been brought to justice.

“I repeat, there should be no impunity for such gross human rights violations, regardless of when they were committed. The Iranian regime and its leaders should not be allowed to escape the consequences of their crimes against humanity and genocide. An independent international investigative and accountability mechanism for Iran is absolutely essential,” Rehman concluded.