Summary of Human Rights Violations During Iranian Protests – January 8th, 2024 (Based on Human Rights Watch Report)
This report details widespread and severe human rights violations committed by Iranian security forces during protests, particularly focusing on events of January 8th, 2024, and the days immediately following. Here’s a breakdown of the key findings, organized by region and type of violation:
Key Findings:
* Widespread Lethal Force: Security forces used excessive and unlawful lethal force against protesters across multiple provinces, employing firearms (rifles, automatic weapons, shotguns) directly at protesters, often targeting torsos, heads, and chests.
* High Casualty Numbers: Estimates of deaths are alarming, with reports ranging from hundreds to potentially over 500 across the country by the evening of January 8th. Hospitals were overwhelmed with casualties, including a significant number of individuals arriving with no vital signs.
* targeting of Vulnerable Groups: Evidence suggests protesters, including women and girls, were specifically targeted.
* Obstruction of Justice & Mourning: Authorities are actively obstructing investigations and grieving families, withholding bodies, coercing families into false statements, and controlling burial locations to prevent gatherings.
* Internet shutdown: The timing of the internet shutdown suggests an attempt to conceal the extent of the violence.
Regional breakdown of Violations:
* Tehran:
* Robina aminian, a 23-year-old student, was shot in the head from behind.
* A woman was shot in the throat while protesting with her husband.
* Security forces engaged in a “massacre,” firing on dispersing crowds.
* Video evidence shows security forces firing automatic weapons from a police station roof at protesters.
* Alborz Province (Fardis):
* A protester was severely injured with a gunshot wound to the head and bleeding profusely. He was reported as not breathing in a video.
* Kermanshah Province:
* Described as a “war zone” with continuous gunfire.
* Witnesses reported security forces “riddling” protesters with bullets.
* Reports of nearly 300 people admitted to one hospital with no vital signs, and 41 alive with gunshot wounds.
* Video shows armed security forces firing at traffic, potentially targeting protesters.
* Razavi Khorasan Province (Mashhad):
* Reports of “large-scale killings,” with descriptions of streets “drenched in blood.”
* A medical professional reported at least 15 deaths in Mashhad on January 8th.
* Approximately 150 bodies were brought to one Mashhad hospital between January 9th and 10th.
* Video shows security forces firing at protesters from a balcony.
* Other Provinces:
* Gilan: Dozens reportedly killed in small towns, with estimates of 15-20 deaths in one town alone.
* Mazandaran: Continuous gunfire reported in Amol, Sari, and Babol, with reports of many deaths.
* Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad: Security forces used heavy machine guns, shotguns, and rifles. 25 bodies were reportedly found at the governor’s compound.
* Markazi: Crackdown with tear gas and shotguns in Mahallat. A 15-16 year old boy was shot and killed while attempting to climb the wall of an intelligence office.
Authorities’ Actions to Conceal and Control:
* Body Withholding: Authorities are withholding the bodies of victims from their families.
* Coerced Statements: Families are being pressured to falsely claim their loved ones were Basij members killed by protesters.
* Financial Extortion: families are being forced to pay fees to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones.
* Controlled Burials: Authorities are dictating burial locations to prevent gatherings and mourning.
Sources:
The report relies on:
* Witness accounts
* Verified videos (geolocated were possible)
* Details from medical professionals
* Reports from activists
* Media reports (specifically mentioning The Guardian)
* Forensic analysis of videos by Deepfakes Rapid Response Force (WITNESS)
Significant Note: While the forensic analysis of one video was inconclusive due to prior editing, the overall evidence points to a systematic and brutal crackdown on protesters by Iranian security forces.
