Iran Crackdown: Amnesty International Demands Justice for Victims

Amnesty International Identifies 87 Officials Responsible for Crackdowns

Investigators gathered testimonies, documents, and videos to identify 87 individuals directly responsible for abuses committed between September and December 2022. These actions followed the outbreak of the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, which erupted after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini. Amini died after being arrested and beaten for allegedly violating the country’s mandatory veiling laws.

According to Amnesty International, security forces fired military assault rifles, handguns, and pellet guns directly into crowds. Officers chased unarmed protesters and bystanders to shoot and injure them at close range. France-Isabelle Langlois, director general of the organization’s French-Canadian section, notes that the current climate of impunity encourages the regime to harden its methods.

State-Directed Violence and the Chain of Command

Amnesty International documented 377 Iranian victims of a coordinated state policy designed to eliminate opposition. Agents operated through a hierarchical chain of command linking street-level forces to senior officials who ordered and facilitated the widespread violence. Among those identified in the report is the former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, who commanded the armed forces before he was killed in airstrikes at the start of the war.

During the most recent uprising in January—weeks before the outbreak of war against the United States and Israel—tens of thousands of Iranians were killed or wounded in city streets. Security forces continue to target critics under the backdrop of war, bringing charges of collaboration with the enemy against dissidents, journalists, and defense lawyers. Public executions through “parodies of trials” have also taken place, while internal crackdown architects remain unpunished or receive promotions from the regime.

Pathways to Accountability and International Jurisdiction

Because Iran’s judicial system is subservient to the ruling regime, local courts will not investigate these crimes. Furthermore, the International Criminal Court lacks jurisdiction because Iran does not recognize its competence. Langlois advocates for the creation of an ad hoc special tribunal, similar to those established for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia, or alternatively, a court set up by a group of countries utilizing universal jurisdiction.

Did you know?

Universal jurisdiction allows national courts to prosecute grave international crimes—such as crimes against humanity—regardless of where the offenses occurred or the nationality of the perpetrators.

Langlois also cautions against the geopolitical exploitation of ongoing unrest. She notes that the war launched in February exacerbates economic hardship and risks triggering new protests, which leaders like U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have publicly welcomed. According to Amnesty International, these political appeals represent manipulation, as neither government demonstrates genuine concern for civilians suffering under heavy wartime bombardments in violation of international law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can’t the International Criminal Court prosecute Iranian officials?

Iran does not recognize the jurisdiction of the ICC.

What is universal jurisdiction?

Universal jurisdiction is a legal principle that enables national judicial systems to investigate and prosecute individuals for serious international crimes, including crimes against humanity, irrespective of where the acts were committed or the nationality of the perpetrator.

How many officials did Amnesty International name in its report?

The organization’s investigators named 87 individuals directly responsible for exactions committed during the 2022 protests, out of 377 documented victims of state-directed lethal force.