The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Tuesday shared its deep worrying concern about the Iranian security forces’ violent response against Mahsa Amini protesters and reports of arbitrary arrests. OHCHR reported that 23 children have been killed by live ammunition, metal pellets at close range and fatal beatings. 

The protests in Iran began following the death of Amini in Iranian custody. On September 13, Amini was arrested in Tehran by Iran’s morality police for wearing an “improper” hijab. Amini’s death in custody sparked nationwide protests in Iran. Iranian authorities responded to the protests with unlawful force, including the use of live ammunition, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds of others.

On October 11, Iranian Minister of Education, Yousef Nouri confirmed that children taking part in the protests are detained and referred to what he called “psychological institutions” that are meant to reform and reeducate the students to prevent “anti-social” behavior. OHCHR also reported that it has received reports of the “arrests of at least 90 members of civil society, including human rights defenders, lawyers, artists, and journalists.”

The UN Child Rights Committee (UNCRC) also shared its concern over the killings of children in protest. UNCRC said:

We strongly urge Iran to comply with its international human rights obligations, particularly those under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This begins with the fundamental obligation to protect children’s right to life under any circumstances.Many children, including many girls, are protesting to make their opinions known on issues that matter to them. Their right to be heard should not be stifled by any level of force. The Committee strongly urges Iran to cease the use of force against peaceful protests and protect the children participating in peaceful demonstrations.

OHCHR also shared concerns about the massive fire, explosions and shootings that erupted inside the Evin prison wherein prisoners were reportedly beaten during the incident by the security forces and transferred to other detention centers. The Iranian authorities have so far confirmed eight deaths and 61 injuries of prisoners. 

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the OHCHR called for the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained. Shamdasani said:

We repeat previously expressed concerns about patterns of ill-treatment, torture and medical neglect of prisoners. Violations of due process including keeping prisoners incommunicado in solitary confinement with no access to a lawyer are common. The continued unnecessary and disproportionate use of force against protesters must stop. Arresting people solely for exercising their rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of liberty.

Amnesty International also called on the Iranian government to allow “independent international monitors to access Iranian prisons to investigate the harrowing use of unlawful force by security forces at Tehran’s Evin prison on 15 October” and “to protect prisoners from further unlawful killings, torture and other ill-treatment.” Amnesty International has documented the widespread use of lethal force by Iranian security forces against protesters, including children.