International human rights organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) announced in a news release on Tuesday that Iran has arrested the family members of dozens of protesters who have been imprisoned or killed during the 2022 anti-government demonstrations. These protests, known as the “women, life, freedom” movement, erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini under suspicious circumstances while she was in police custody for allegedly violating Iran’s mandatory hijab law.
HRW has documented numerous instances of threats, harassment, and arrests on false charges. These reports were corroborated through interviews conducted by various human rights organizations. Such incidents include the arrest of a 15-year-old who visited his brother’s grave after he was killed in the “Bloody Friday” government crackdown on peaceful protesters, as well as the violent, warrantless arrest of another protester’s son during a house raid.
The protests of 2022 have been characterized as unprecedented in scale and intensity, leading to widespread government intervention. Over 500 participants were killed, and upwards of 19,000 were arrested. In 2023, a UN fact-finding mission urged Iranian authorities to release individuals still in custody for their involvement in the protests, underscoring that they should not be penalized for exercising their right to peaceful assembly or for reporting on the demonstrations.
HRW’s recent announcement highlights continued abuses, noting that Iran is violating its international obligations, including rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly as enshrined in Articles 19 and 20 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The organization’s documentation draws parallels to the 2019 civil protests and strikes against Iran’s economic situation, during which HRW also reported the targeting of protesters’ relatives.