UN rights council moves to investigate Iran’s protest crackdown
Al Jazeera‘Fact-finding mission’ will probe alleged human rights abuses in Iran, with particular focus on women and children. The United Nations Human Rights Council has voted to establish a fact-finding mission to investigate potential abuses in Iran’s crackdown on anti-government demonstrations, with a particular focus on women and children. “The people of Iran, from all walks of life across ethnicities, across ages, are demanding change,” said UN human rights chief Volker Turk, urging Iran to end its “disproportionate” use of force against the protesters. Thursday’s vote drew praise from several countries, including the US, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying it showed that the top UN rights body “recognises the gravity of the situation in Iran”. “The Islamic Republic of Iran deeply regrets that the Human Rights Council is abused once again by some arrogant states to antagonise a sovereign UN member state that is fully committed to its obligation to promote and protect human rights,” said Karimi, Iran’s deputy of the vice president for women and family affairs.