Leading as much as the anniversary of final 12 months’s protests in September, Iranian safety providers had resorted to threats and intimidation to discourage folks from taking to the streets.
Over the previous three weeks, the Ministry of Information and the Intelligence Service (SAS) of the Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have been involved with people arrested in nationwide anti-regime protests. Iranian officers who spoke to Iran International mentioned they’d warned towards taking part in any demonstrations on the anniversary of the protests.
Those known as in by the intelligence providers had been requested to signal a pledge to remain at house for every week, and a few had been requested to take break day from work to ensure they’d not participate within the protests. They have been threatened with arrest if they’re discovered taking part in protest actions in public areas or on social media.
The regime has additionally elevated strain on the households of these killed within the protests and the attorneys representing them, together with Saleh Nikbakht, a veteran human rights lawyer who’s representing the Amini household. Nikbakht is accused of giving interviews concerning the incident to overseas media and is charged with spreading propaganda towards the regime.
On July 5, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran Report to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights The Secretary-General known as on the Iranian authorities to “finish its continued repression of peaceable protesters” and finish the wave of executions, mass arrests and detentions that adopted Amini’s demise. The report mentioned Iran should “respect, fulfill and defend the rights of all Iranian folks, particularly ladies and women.”
Over the previous few months, numerous officers have expressed concern about the potential of additional protests beginning on or across the anniversary of Amini’s demise.
In a June 16 tackle to governors throughout the nation, Mohamedreza Gholamreza, Undersecretary for Political Affairs on the Ministry of Interior, warned that the anniversary of Amini’s demise, coupled with the opening of colleges and universities within the coming days, might spark new protests and have an effect. I used to be warned that there can be. Public curiosity within the subsequent parliamentary election on March 1st.
On June 19, SAS chief Brigadier General Mohammad Kazemi introduced on Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s official web site that intelligence providers from round 20 international locations, together with the United States, Israel, European powers, Saudi Arabia and different Arab international locations, have he argued. – Was concerned in inciting protests in Iran. Kazemi claimed that Mahsa Amini’s demise solely “fast-tracked the enemy’s plans.” He additional claimed that his opponents are pursuing the identical technique and wish to the upcoming elections as a possibility to implement their plans.
The regime’s lethal crackdown throughout protests final 12 months left 500 civilians useless, 1000’s extra injured and tens of 1000’s arrested. The regime has not launched any official statistics or taken accountability for the deaths.
Many of the detainees have been launched on bail and are at present awaiting trial. Thousands of others had been pardoned Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei mentioned this in February. Seven protesters have been executed up to now, and several other others are awaiting demise sentences.
In March, Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei claimed that 22,000 folks had benefited from the amnesty.
However, rights teams reported that a few of these launched from jail below amnesty had been later charged with new prices and had been at present awaiting trial.