Protesters in Geneva demanded the opening of an investigation into the abuses committed by the regime protest against the demonstrations for the death of a young man for “inappropriate use” of the Islamic headscarf| Photo: EFE/EPA/MARTIAL TREZZINI
The Basij is a wing of the Revolutionary Guard of Iran that has acted in the strong repression against the protests that started in September. The mobilizations of the population against the oppressive regime in Iran were triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini, from years old, in custody of Iran’s morality police. The young woman was reportedly arrested for not wearing her hijab (veil) properly. According to Amnesty International, Basij members were ordered to “mercilessly confront” the demonstrators. Khamenei’s words come a day after the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, warned that Iran is in a “full-fledged human rights crisis” due to repression to anti-regime dissidents. He told the state council of members in Geneva that security forces responded to the protests using deadly force against unarmed protesters and bystanders who “posed no threat”. On thursday (24 ), the United Nations Human Rights Council decided to create a mission to investigate the Iranian government’s repression of the protests.24154050
It is estimated that more than 80 1,000 people, including children, were arrested in connection with the protests. At least of them currently face the death penalty and six have already received death sentences. According to Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights, at least 416 people, including 720 children and 24 women, had been killed by Iranian security forces in protests held across the country until the beginning of this week.380
