Two years have passed since the onset of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising in Iran, a movement that began in response to the arrest and subsequent death of Mahsa Jina Amini, a 22-year-old woman of Kurdish origin, who was apprehended by the guidance police for improperly covering her hair. Amnesty International commemorated this anniversary by releasing a statement highlighting ongoing human rights abuses. The protests, initially sparked by Amini’s death, saw widespread police crackdowns, resulting in numerous arrests, injuries, and deaths, including those of children and human rights activists.
The United Nations Human Rights Council responded to these events by passing a resolution that established an independent fact-finding mission to investigate violations. The mission’s report revealed instances of arbitrary lethal force used against protesters, with thousands arrested—many of them underaged. Despite some governmental pardons, at least 28 individuals were sentenced to death, and there were reports of women being sexually assaulted by security forces.
In November 2023, the UN recommended that Iran repeal or amend its hijab law and disband the guidance police in its concluding observations. These recommendations aligned with the principles of the Paris Principles and urged Iran to ensure legal protection against discrimination as per the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Despite a temporary cessation of guidance police patrols, Amnesty International reports that abuses continue, with international organizations yet to conduct thorough investigations into the police’s actions. Human rights violations remain pervasive, as relatives of victims are subjected to arbitrary arrests, death threats, and harassment. Consequently, Amnesty has called upon states to use universal jurisdiction to investigate and address these crimes.
Further details can be found on the original report at JURIST.