After many discussions and debates, the United Nations Human Rights Council has approved a fact-finding mission to investigate the Iranian regime’s human rights violations that have taken place in the ongoing protests.
The meeting to approve the fact-finding mission was convened at the request of Germany and Iceland to discuss the determination of the human rights situation in Iran.
In a vote on November 24, a resolution against the regime was passed by 25 votes in favor, with six votes against and 16 abstentions.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk said, “We have seen waves of protests over the past years, calling for justice, equality, dignity, and respect for human rights. They have been met with violence and repression. The unnecessary and disproportionate use of force must come to an end.”
He added, “The old methods and the fortress mentality of those who wield power simply don’t work. In fact, they only aggravate the situation. We are now in a full-fledged human rights crisis.”
Javaid Rehman, the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, stated, “Structural impunity has fueled widespread patterns of unlawful killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and other serious human rights violations in Iran.”
The mission will collect evidence of the regime’s actions, which can then be used in legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice.
In response to the approval, the regime reacted with anger and desperation. Kazem Gharibabadi, International Deputy and Secretary of Human Rights in the regime’s Judiciary said, “While our rights are being violated through the imposition of unilateral coercive measures and the hosting of groups that have claimed 17,000 of our lives, holding a special session of the Human Rights Council on Iran is a treacherous act.”
Zohreh Alahian, the head of the regime’s Human Rights Committee of the Majlis Commission, stated, “The resolution of the special meeting of the Human Rights Council is interference in the internal affairs of the system. The same countries equipped the MEK.”
Mohamad Marandi, a negotiating team member for the regime’s nuclear case, added, “The United Nations is dominated by Western regimes. The regimes that host the MEK. Regimes that apply maximum pressure sanctions. Iran will not ignore these criminals.”
It should be noted that this is the first time that a fact-finding Committee has been formed for the regime’s human rights violations since 1979. Before this, a special rapporteur for human rights dealt with the Iranian regime’s case.
The special rapporteur mechanism has existed since the establishment of the United Nations Human Rights Commission. Whenever there was an allegation of widespread and systematic violation of human rights in a country, a special rapporteur was appointed for that country.
Naturally, these individuals presented their reports which reached the Human Rights Commission and then were passed up to the Economic-Social Council, but the reports had no executive aspect. With the formation of a fact-finding committee, any report about the regime’s human rights violations will not be assessed without consequences.
An executive decision will not be taken by the Human Rights Council against the regime, but this Council can send the regime’s case of human rights violations to the UN Security Council as a situation that violates international peace and security.
All countries strive to prevent the formation of such a committee or the appointment of a special rapporteur, as it will hurt their international prestige, and negatively affect their international relations.
The regime’s jurisconsults spoke to the media stating that the regime has three options for how to deal with the new situation. First, by forming an independent internal commission and publicizing its findings, secondly, by cooperating with the International Commission and third, by denying any cooperation and recognition.
Our knowledge of the regime makes it clear to us that they would be unable to choose the first and second path, which will ultimately lead to the collapse of the regime’s wall of repression and bring about its demise.
The regime is being practically forced to choose the third way which will put it in a very dangerous situation, in addition to its contested nuclear case. This will only further provide an excuse for foreign military intervention; Referral of the investigation of possible crimes to the International Criminal Court and recourse to the doctrine of ‘Responsibility to Protect’ for military intervention.
The military intervention phase of this requires a UN Security Council resolution, which the regime is counting on following the veto of Russia and China. It should be noted that in the case of Kosovo, world leaders decided to act without any resolution by the Council to prevent any massacre, genocide, or gross human rights violations.
This is the reason why some of the regime’s jurisconsults like Reza Nassri, whose suggestion was quoted by the state-run daily Donya-e Eghtesad on November 25, are forming an internal valid board with the same function as soon as possible.
