Amnesty International released the report, Iran: Election contested, repression compounded, on Thursday describing Iran’s human rights record is at its worst level in 20 years. The findings come from allegations of rape, torture, and killings prior to and in the wake of the Iranian election last June up until the present. The release of the report comes on Human Rights Day.
Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, who is the Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Program, stated, “The Iranian leadership must ensure that the many allegations of torture, including rape, unlawful killings and other abuses are fully and independently investigated.” Furthermore, he said, “Members of militias and officials who have committed violations must also be promptly held to account and on no account should any one be executed.”
In addition, Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui called for the Supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to “order the government to invite in UN Special Rapporteurs on torture and on summary and arbitrary executions to help ensure that investigations are both rigorous and independent.” He remarked that investigations thus far in the country have merely been a front to cover up atrocities rather than discover the truth.
After the election in June, which many considered to contain fraud, there have been frequent mass demonstrations in the country, details of which have been kept fairly hidden from the international community. The reports that have surfaced involve imprisonment and torture, in addition to other abuses up to and including executions for nothing more than having an opposing political view from the Ahmadinejad regime. The report names the Basij militia and Revolutionary Guard as being the implementers of the abuses against the Iranian people, on orders from Iranian authorities.
Approximately 4,000 or more people were arrested after the election, 200 of which are still imprisoned, and anywhere from 36 to 70 people have been killed. Demonstrations have continued off and on even up though this week in observance of National Students Day. The report cites specific cases of abuse, detailing the atrocities done to various individuals.
Although it was determined that fraud had occurred in the election, the Supreme Leader decided to allow the results stand, allowing Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to have a second term in office.
Iranian authorities did create two committees to investigate the violence after the election. However, it has not released any details on the focus of the investigation, nor on the findings.
“The authorities must show that they have turned the page on the abuses committed this summer. They must now ensure that the policing of protests conforms fully to international standards on law enforcement, and keep the Basij and other strong arm forces off the street,” Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui stated.
He continued, “Anyone who is arrested or detained must be protected from torture or other ill-treatment, prisoners of conscience must be released and those convicted after unfair trials – including the 'show trials' which made a mockery of justice – must have their cases reviewed, or be released. All death sentences should be commuted, and others not yet tried must receive fair trials.”
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