(Beirut) – Iranian safety forces used extreme and illegal deadly power in opposition to protesters in Sanandaj, the capital of Kurdistan Autonomous Region, in October and November 2022, Human Rights Watch introduced at this time. The newly established UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran ought to examine these gross human rights violations as a part of a broader report on the Iranian authorities’s human rights abuses in opposition to largely peaceable protesters throughout the nation.
Human Rights Watch interviewed 14 victims and witnesses in Sanandaj, together with three former detainees and three members of the family of detainees. Researchers additionally analyzed 17 movies and images posted by Sanandaj on Twitter, Telegram and Instagram throughout this era.
Excessive and illegal use of lethal power
Iranian safety forces used extreme and deadly power in opposition to anti-government protesters and others in Sanandaj in September, October, and November, in violation of worldwide human rights legislation. Particularly violent crackdowns occurred on October 8 and November 17. Security forces used shotguns and Kalashnikov-style assault rifles to fireside dwell rounds, pellets and tear fuel at demonstrators. They additionally fired tear fuel into properties and destroyed non-public property. One of the brokers, carrying plain garments, fired an assault rifle into the condominium.
Human Rights Watch mentioned the protests have been largely peaceable, however some protesters threw stones and different objects at safety forces. Although safety forces could take applicable motion in opposition to sure demonstrators who commit violence, this doesn’t justify their use of extreme power.
Security forces killed a minimum of six folks on October 8 and November 17. The Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported that safety forces additionally beat and shot Momen Zandkarimi, 17 or 18, on November 2. In a video posted on social media in November, a person who recognized himself as Zandkarimi’s father mentioned on Tuesday that his son was shot with a metallic bullet and suffered inner bleeding. Human Rights Watch reviewed video footage posted on social media that purports to indicate Zandkarimi’s physique being washed for burial. A physician examined by Human Rights Watch mentioned there was a big round wound on the again of the physique, which seemed to be attributable to a pellet shot. Researchers couldn’t affirm the reason for dying.
Human Rights Watch spoke to 5 witnesses concerning the occasions of October 8. Protesters gathered in small numbers close to Azadi Square in central Sanandaj and within the Fayez Abad, Ghatarkian and Sharif Abad districts. Police mentioned they responded by firing tear fuel and pellets at protesters and hitting them with batons.
Witnesses mentioned they noticed a person shoot Peyman Menbari, 24, from behind within the Gatalkian space. He mentioned he and Membari have been in a bunch of about 50 protesters. “I noticed him throw stones on the Revolutionary Guards.” [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] and [plainclothes] Agent,” he mentioned. “Then I heard him sigh and collapse in entrance of me.” Witnesses mentioned different protesters believed the person who shot Menbari was a member of the native Basij militia. He mentioned he knew the identify and recognized him because the particular person accused of serving to the Revolutionary Guards determine the protesters.
Kurdistan information company Kurdopa reported that round midday on October 8, Yahya Rahimi was shot in a inexperienced automotive on Pasdaran Street after honking his horn to help protesters. Human Rights Watch investigated and reviewed 4 movies associated to the assault that have been shared on social media on October 8 and 9. One video reveals masked males attacking a inexperienced automotive and shattering its windshield. In the second video, males with rifles chase the identical automotive. In the third picture, the driving force is seen bleeding closely and unresponsive behind the wheel, surrounded by damaged glass.
A 32-year-old man who was on the scene shortly after the killing mentioned he noticed a person who recognized himself as a plainclothes detective flee the scene. “As I bought nearer, I noticed the driving force lifeless. I noticed the windshield damaged,” he mentioned, including that it appeared the bullet had gone by means of the windshield.
A fourth video, taken from a special aspect of the automotive, reveals an unresponsive man with a big gash behind his proper ear. Human Rights Watch couldn’t independently affirm that the person was Yahya Rahimi, however his father advised reporters that “brokers of the Islamic Republic” attacked his son’s automotive. He mentioned he had killed him. Rahimi’s funeral will likely be held on October ninth and tenth, in keeping with a discover on social media.
A witness mentioned he was additionally attacked later that afternoon. He offered a photograph of his injured again, which he mentioned was attributable to police firing a metallic bullet at him after he and different protesters peacefully chanted slogans. . He estimated he witnessed police taking pictures pellets at greater than 10 different people who day, together with within the face.
Four witnesses mentioned safety forces carrying assault rifles and shotguns fired tear fuel at visitors in numerous areas. The 30-year-old girl mentioned she witnessed police attacking vehicles and smashing windshields with batons within the Sharif Abad space close to Pasdaran Street.
Thousands of individuals gathered on the Behesht Mohammadi cemetery on November 17, 40 days after the killing of 4 protesters on October 8, a day when folks often collect to recollect the lifeless. Iranian police particular forces and the Revolutionary Guards attacked and opened fireplace on mourners, killing a minimum of two folks, witnesses mentioned. Witnesses recognized the troops by their army uniforms. The 32-year-old man, who took half within the October 8 protest, mentioned safety forces fired tear fuel and shotguns at mourners who have been chanting slogans 100 to 200 meters away from the Keshraq Bridge. I witnessed it getting used. A bridge connects the cemetery to town. He mentioned some folks have been throwing petrol bombs and stones at police, however most have been peaceable.
He mentioned safety forces shot lifeless a number of mourners, together with a teenage boy and two males, wounding one within the stomach and one other within the arm. He mentioned safety forces eliminated the our bodies of two different males, whom the Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported as Alam Habibi and Shaho Bahmani, from Kousar Hospital regardless of objections from their households.
The UN Fundamental Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms at all times prohibit using extreme power and using lethal power, besides when there’s an imminent risk of dying or severe damage. The 2020 United Nations “Guidance on Less-Lethal Weapons in Law Enforcement Agencies” states that “a number of projectiles fired on the similar time are inaccurate and their use usually can not adjust to the rules of necessity and proportionality. . Metal pellets, comparable to these fired from shotguns, ought to by no means be used.” International requirements for using tear fuel projectiles state that tear fuel could solely be used to disperse illegal assemblies when vital and applicable. and needs to be fired at a excessive angle.
Iranian safety forces ought to instantly cease utilizing shotgun pellets and different related indiscriminate weapons, Human Rights Watch mentioned.
Abuse of detainees
Two girls who have been arrested collectively throughout the first week of protests in September mentioned they have been assaulted, sexually assaulted and threatened with rape by safety forces throughout their arrest and in custody at a police station. . The household of a 17-year-old lady arrested in October mentioned police threatened her with sexual assault and sexually harassed her at her police station. One of the ladies mentioned that in her arrest in September, a safety guard punched her within the neck, threw her to the bottom, and dragged her by her hair earlier than six or seven officers attacked her. He mentioned he hit her. One of the women then kicked and punched her together with his baton whereas forcing her into her automotive. She suffered inner bleeding and fractures.
After being detained on the police station, the 2 girls mentioned they have been transferred to the Sanandaj Juvenile Correctional Center together with different feminine detainees. There, she mentioned, there was not sufficient area and there weren’t sufficient blankets, so she was compelled to take turns sleeping on the ground. Police didn’t notify his household of his arrest, and didn’t acknowledge that they’d detained him after they got here on the lookout for him.