Amnesty: Iran violence post-election worst in 20 years

CAIRO: Amnesty International has issued a scathing report on the violence that followed Iran's elections last June. The London-based international human rights organization said that what occurred in Iran are “as bad as at any time in the past 20 years.” It comes as a new round of protests are again appearing in Iran.
“The Iranian leadership must ensure that the many allegations of torture, including rape, unlawful killings and other abuses are fully and independently investigated,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Program, in a press statement.
“Members of militias and officials who have committed violations must also be promptly held to account and on no account should any one be executed.”
The rights group has called on Tehran's ruling Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to give two United Nations human rights experts entry into the country in order to investigate fully the events of last summer. Until now, Khamenei has refused to allow UN inspectors and investigators into the country, citing national sovereignty and internal affairs.
“The Supreme Leader should order the government to invite in UN Special Rapporteurs on torture and on summary and arbitrary executions to help ensure that investigations are both rigorous and independent,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui.
”To date, the investigations announced by various Iranian authorities seem to have been more concerned with covering up abuses than getting at the truth.”
The report continues to describe the patterns of abuse before, during and, particularly, after the June election, “when the authorities deployed the Basij militia and Revolutionary Guards to suppress mass protests against its disputed outcome.”
Citing testimonials from those persons who were detained during the protests, a number of whom Amnesty said have been forced to flee the country over safety concerns.
One former detainee was cited in the report as saying he was detained at the fabled Kahrizak detention center for over 50 days. Only 40 days into his jailing was his family contacted.
“During interrogation, he was told that his son had been detained and would be raped if he did not “confess” and he was then beaten with a baton until he lost consciousness. He said there were more than 70 other detainees held in the container with him,” Amnesty reported.
Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui said: “The authorities must show that they have turned the page on the abuses committed this summer. They must now ensure that the policing of protests conforms fully to international standards on law enforcement, and keep the Basij and other strong arm forces off the street.
“Anyone who is arrested or detained must be protected from torture or other ill-treatment, prisoners of conscience must be released and those convicted after unfair trials – including the “show trials” which made a mockery of justice – must have their cases reviewed, or be released. All death sentences should be commuted, and others not yet tried must receive fair trials.”
But, June was not the only subject of discussion. The report referred to events this week, saying the government crackdown on protesters continues until today. “The crackdown on protest has continued as dozens of student activists were detained and others banned from study in the three weeks leading to Iran's national student day on 7 December, when over 200 were arrested during demonstrations that were met with beatings and tear gas by security forces.”
BM