On the third anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a report highlighting Iran’s failure to address abuses during the 2022 protests triggered by her detention and subsequent demise while in police custody. The outcry over Amini’s death sparked nationwide demonstrations which were met with severe crackdowns by Iranian authorities. Despite the international attention, HRW indicates that there has been a significant lack of accountability for the actions of security officials involved in suppressing these protests. Officials implicated in unlawful killings, mass arrests, and torture have not been investigated or prosecuted. Instead, numerous demonstrators have faced severe sentences, including lengthy imprisonment or even death.
The HRW report reveals that at least 500 protesters lost their lives, among them many children, while countless others sustained injuries or were detained. The findings also include incidents of coerced confessions, unfair trials, and limited access to legal representation. Rights groups have consistently criticized Tehran for its response to the unrest, which included extensive internet shutdowns and restrictions on free expression. The report further stresses the absence of justice for victims and their families as the Iranian judiciary appears complicit in shielding offenders from accountability.
The United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran, created in the wake of the 2022 protests, has similarly concluded that the Iranian government engaged in crimes against humanity, pointing to grave offenses such as murder and torture. However, Tehran dismisses these allegations, alleging political bias in the findings. This growing body of international criticism urges continuous pressure from global entities, with HRW advocating for the UN Human Rights Council to extend the Fact-Finding Mission’s mandate and to explore new accountability mechanisms, including the use of universal jurisdiction cases abroad.
Despite diminishing public protests due to aggressive state responses, deep-seated grievances and ongoing abuses pose a constant threat of reigniting unrest. Advocacy organizations continue to press for significant reforms, particularly the abolition of the morality police and the revision of mandatory dress codes. Yet, in 2024, Iran doubled down by enacting stricter penalties for hijab violations, underlining its resistance to change. The “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, born from these protests, continues to symbolize a significant challenge to Iran’s theocratic regime, capturing the enduring struggle against state suppression.
Observers and rights groups remain concerned that without meaningful reform and accountability, Iran is poised for further internal conflict. As the international community weighs its options, the struggle for justice in Iran continues, driven by calls for human rights compliance and reform.