ASIATODAY.ID, TEHRAN – A UN-mandated independent fact-finding mission has sharply condemned Iran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests, urging authorities to immediately restore internet access and halt what it describes as an increasingly brutal and unrestrained use of force against civilians.
In a statement released on Saturday, January 10, 2026, the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran said it was deeply alarmed by credible reports indicating that security forces had been ordered to carry out a “decisive” crackdown as demonstrations entered their third week.
Internet and mobile connectivity were shut down on the evening of 8 January, severely restricting access to information and communication as violence escalated across the country. The protests erupted on 28 December following the sudden collapse of Iran’s national currency and have since spread to at least 46 cities nationwide.
As of 7 January, more than 40 people — including at least five children — were reportedly killed in several provinces, including Qom, Yasuj, Kermanshah, Ilam, and Lorestan. Iran’s parliament has also confirmed fatalities among members of the security forces.
UN: Peaceful Protest Is a Right, Not a Crime
“The Fact-Finding Mission reiterates that Iranian women, men, and children deserve to live safely, with dignity, and with full respect for their rights,” the statement said.
“This includes the right to peacefully protest without facing oppressive violence, intimidation, or repression by the State.”
The mission also warned that any threats or acts of unilateral military intervention by third countries would violate international law, stressing that accountability for human rights abuses must remain rooted in lawful international mechanisms.
Iranian authorities were urged to uphold the rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and to unconditionally release all individuals arbitrarily detained for exercising these protected rights.
Evidence of Live Fire, Hospital Raids, and Ethnic Targeting
The Fact-Finding Mission confirmed it is reviewing video footage and photographs allegedly showing security forces opening fire on protesters. Other footage depicts individuals setting public buildings and vehicles ablaze amid the unrest.
Particular concern was raised over reports from ethnic minority regions, where security responses were described as especially brutal. In one reported incident in Ilam, security forces allegedly stormed a hospital, fired tear gas inside the facility, and assaulted patients and medical staff.
According to the mission, the current wave of repression closely mirrors the pattern of violence documented during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests in 2022, which followed the death of Jina Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman detained for allegedly violating Iran’s mandatory hijab laws. Those protests were marked by allegations of widespread human rights violations and entrenched impunity.
About the Fact-Finding Mission
Established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2022, the Fact-Finding Mission is tasked with investigating alleged human rights violations linked to protests in Iran, with a particular focus on abuses against women and children.
Its mandate was extended in April 2025 for an additional year, allowing investigators to examine recent and ongoing allegations of serious human rights violations amid Iran’s continuing unrest. (AT Network)
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