Mahsa Amini’s death in custody last month after being detained by the so-called “morality police” sparked protests, and Special Rapporteur Javaid Rehman told journalists in New York that since then, many in the UN human rights community have made “very strong calls for independent, impartial investigations,” but Iran has only responded by intensifying its pressure.

It is one’s “duty to act.”

He said that it is “very important” that the UN and other international groups “take concrete action.” He also said that the “international community has a responsibility to act” to stop people from getting away with breaking rights without being punished.

He told reporters that “Iran is in chaos” after many people took to the streets on Wednesday to mark 40 days since Ms. Amini’s death. On Thursday, television sources showed a video of security officers beating mourners at the tomb of young Nika Shakarami.

When he gave his briefing at UN Headquarters in New York, only a few hours had passed since he called for a new global investigation system.

Young men and women have led most of the protests, which have been calling for responsibility, justice, and change.

Mr. Rehman claimed that in addition to the state ignoring calls for a prompt, impartial investigation into the crackdown that resulted in at least 250 deaths, including 27 children, it also exacerbated violence while maintaining that the authorities were innocent of any wrongdoing.

Women, life, and liberty

Even though more and more people are demanding change on the streets under the banner “women, life, and freedom,” he said that Iran’s own investigations “failed the minimum standards of impartiality and objectivity.”

The unaffiliated expert said that Ms. Amini was “not the first lady to face these horrible consequences” because of the strict dress rules set by the morality police, and she won’t be the last.

A large portion of the demonstrators are “young, bright, clever women—they view the world… Even the most violent and oppressive Iranian authorities are powerless to stop young people, and they won’t be able to do so, he claimed.

In a statement signed by a large number of UN rights experts just one day before the executions and crackdown, they said that there were arbitrary arrests and detentions, gender-based and sexual abuse, disproportionate use of force, torture, and forced disappearances.

Very alarming

The experts were “deeply troubled” by reports that Iranian security forces had used live ammunition, metal pellets, and buckshot against peaceful, unarmed protesters in a way that broke the laws of legality, precaution, necessity, non-discrimination, and proportionality.

“An alarming number of demonstrators, many of whom are children, women, and senior citizens, have already been jailed and slain.” The government needs to tell police to stop using too much force or killing people right away and to be more careful.

They said it was scary that other women and girls’ rights were taken away when they were in jail or out in public, and that stories of physical and sexual abuse of women and girls at protests and in public places were also scary.

Repression tendencies

“We see these violations as part of a long-term, persistent pattern of discrimination based on gender that is built into laws, rules, and social systems.” For the past forty years, all of these have had disastrous effects on women and girls in this nation.

Since the protests began, internet communications have been blocked, making it difficult to access and share information.

According to reports, authorities have reportedly harassed and intimidated demonstrators’ families. They say that relatives are being unfairly questioned so that “rioters” or people who work for “enemies of the Islamic Republic of Iran” can be blamed for the deaths of relatives.

The UN Human Rights Council, which has its headquarters in Geneva, appoints special rapporteurs to investigate and provide feedback on a particular national situation or human rights-related issue. The specialists have honorary status and are not compensated for their services.