Amnesty Names 87 Iranian Officials, Cites 377 Deaths in Iran Protest Crackdown

LONDON, Sept 16: Amnesty International has identified 87 Iranian officials and commanders whom it says should face prosecution over alleged crimes against humanity committed during the crackdown on the “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests, Secretary General Agnès Callamard said on Wednesday.

Speaking at a news conference in London, Callamard said Amnesty had documented the security forces’ command structure and the roles of officials in suppressing the protests. She said the list, which includes officials from Iran’s security forces and Interior Ministry, was not exhaustive and that the organization had gathered sufficient evidence to support prosecutions of those named.

Amnesty said it had written to Iran’s Supreme Leader and other officials regarding the individuals identified in its report but received no response.

Callamard urged the UN General Assembly to establish an international mechanism to pursue criminal accountability and called on countries to seek a UN Security Council referral of Iran’s situation to the International Criminal Court. She also urged prosecutors in other countries to pursue cases against implicated Iranian officials under universal jurisdiction.

Amnesty researcher Raha Bahreini said Iran’s judicial system could not be expected to hold perpetrators accountable because judicial officials were themselves allegedly involved in crimes committed during the protests.

Bahreini said Amnesty documented what it described as a widespread and systematic attack on people during the uprising, based on interviews with 270 people and an examination of more than 2,000 videos.

According to Amnesty, security forces fired on peaceful protesters, pursued demonstrators through streets and used firearms at close range. The organization documented the deaths of 377 protesters and bystanders, including at least 56 children.

Bahreini said the forces involved included multiple Basij and police units as well as special operational units of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Amnesty called for the establishment of an international mechanism to investigate and prosecute alleged crimes against humanity in Iran, citing the lack of progress at the UN Security Council over a possible referral to the International Criminal Court.

Callamard also said domestic repression in Iran had intensified, with public spaces becoming increasingly militarized and politically motivated executions increasing. She urged governments to use diplomatic measures to help prevent another, potentially broader crackdown on protesters.