An official report published in Iran estimates the total number of people killed in protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022 at 281, an estimate much lower than that given by UN experts.
This figure appears in the report made public by the special commission charged by President Ebrahim Raïssi with investigating the unrest that shook the country at the end of 2022.
The nearly 300-page document was published ten days after a report by experts commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council, which affirmed that, according to "credible figures", "no fewer than 551 demonstrators were killed by security forces, including at least 49 women and 68 children.
VIDEO.
In Iran, protests erupt across the country after the death of Mahsa Amini
Of the 202 deceased civilians recorded by the Iranian commission of inquiry, 112 are “bystanders” who “were killed during the riots by rioters carrying illegal weapons which were not used by the police”.
In addition, 90 of them were involved in “terrorist acts and attacks” against military, police or public buildings.
The commission puts the number of law enforcement officials killed at 79.
Iranian experts conclude that “government institutions, including the security services and the judiciary, acted responsibly in the face of the unrest.”
“Disproportionate use of force”
In its report, the UN mission called into question “an unnecessary and disproportionate use of force” against “mainly peaceful” demonstrators, citing “crimes against humanity”.
This report was “strongly denounced” by Tehran, according to which it is based on “baseless assertions” and “false and biased information”.
Iranian experts rely on the results of medical examinations to indicate that Mahsa Amini died of natural causes - from cerebral hypoxia - on September 16, 2022, three days after being arrested by the morality police in Tehran for non-compliance with the compulsory wearing of the veil.
This version has been contested by those who claim that the 22-year-old died of hemorrhage caused by violence.
Also read: A year ago in Iran, Mahsa Amini died for an ill-fitting veil: “The wall of fear has fallen”
The commission also indicates that 34,000 people were arrested during “the unrest”.
Among them, “only 292 are still detained”, of which “158 have been sentenced to prison terms”.
For Iranian experts, “the role played by foreigners” and “certain governments” in “the escalation of demonstrations” is “clear”.
They thus blame “the United States, the Zionist regime (Israel, Editor’s note), Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, etc.
", as well as "intelligence services", "separatist" and "anti-revolutionary" organizations or "anti-Iranian satellite channels".