As the number of children reportedly killed by
Iranian security forces in relation to ongoing protests rises to
at least 23, the UN
Committee on the Rights of the Child issued a statement on Monday condemning the
killings, noting that hundreds more have been injured, detained
and tortured during the Government crackdown.
Committee members urged authorities to stop all violence against
children, which is a clear violation of their rights, including
the right to protest peacefully.
The nationwide protest movement began a month ago, following the
death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who died after being arrested by
Iran’s so-called morality police, for violating strict dress
codes relating to her hijab.
Many of the videos which have gone viral from Iran, despite a
crackdown on the domestic internet, show young women risking
their lives in the street or in classrooms, defying authorities
with protest chants criticizing clerical leaders.
Shot and beaten
Among the dead are a boy aged 11, and according to reliable
witnesses, some children were shot with live ammunition, while
others died after being beaten.
“Many families reported that, despite grieving for the loss of a
child, they were pressured to absolve security
forces by declaring that their children had
committed suicide and making false confessions”, said the
statement.
The Committee is also deeply concerned at reports that children
have been arrested in schools and detained together with adults,
and that some have been tortured.
Forced re-education
The Ministry of Education announced last week that children
arrested were being transferred to psychological centres “for
correction and education to prevent them from becoming
anti-social characters”, and there have been multiple reports of
retaliatory expulsions of many high school students, the
Committee said.
“We strongly urge Iran to comply with its international
human rights obligations, particularly those under
the Convention on the Rights of the
Child. This begins with the fundamental obligation to protect
children’s right to life under any circumstances.”
Committee members also stressed that Iran was obliged to respect
and protect children’s rights to freedom of expression and
peaceful protest.
Right to be heard
“Many children, including many girls, are protesting to make
their opinions known on issues that matter to
them. Their right to be heard should not be stifled
by any level of force.
“The Committee strongly urges Iran to cease the use
of force against peaceful protests and protect the children
participating in peaceful demonstrations.”
And members also called for thorough investigations into any
grave violations of children’s rights, to be carried out “by
competent, independent and impartial authorities” with a view to
prosecuting anyone found responsible.
“The Committee on the Rights of the Child will
continue to closely monitor the situation in Iran
and liaise with other relevant human rights bodies to bring an
end to the grave violations of the rights of Iranian children.”
