Iran prosecutor general says judiciary never planned 800 executions

An Iranian lawmaker confirmed that many people who died during recent protests were wounded individuals who did not make it to hospitals, an unusual acknowledgment by an official about the fate of the injured during the unrest.

Ahmad Fatemi, a member of parliament’s social affairs commission, said many of those who died had been injured and later died from their wounds or infections after not receiving hospital treatment.

“Some of the wounded, for various reasons, did not go to treatment centers, and many of the deaths were due to injuries and infection,” Fatemi was quoted as saying by state media.

He said the cases were under review and that no precise figures had yet been released, adding that relevant authorities would publish official statistics later.

Payam Akhavan, an Iranian-Canadian former UN prosecutor, said efforts at the United Nations to document alleged abuses in Iran could prepare the ground for future legal action.

“The scale of the crimes is unprecedented,” Akhavan told Reuters ahead of an emergency session of the UN Human Rights Council on Iran.

“We are trying to set the stage for transitional justice in Iran, for the country’s Nuremberg moment, should that come to pass,” he said, referring to the post-World War II trials of Nazi leaders.

Akhavan said documenting alleged violations now could be critical for future accountability, even if prosecutions are not immediately possible.

Iranian security forces shot at people trying to help the wounded during protests in the northern city of Rasht, according to eyewitness accounts shared with Iran International.

The witnesses said security forces surrounded injured protesters to block assistance and fired directly at anyone who tried to help.

“In some cases they formed a circle around the wounded so no one could get close, and if anyone tried to help, they opened fire,” one witness said in a message from Rasht.

The witness described an incident on Takhti Street in which a wounded person lay bleeding in the street. When a resident tried to help, security forces hiding in an alley opposite shot both individuals, killing them, the witness said, adding that the rescuer was shot in the head.

The witness said security forces hid in alleys and fired at people passing through.

The UN Human Rights Council will hold an emergency session on Friday to discuss the alarming violence used by Iran against protesters, as a group of states pushed to expand a UN investigation into alleged abuses.

At least 50 countries backed the request for the special session, citing credible reports of violence against protesters, a nationwide crackdown and violations of international human rights law, according to a letter drafted by Iceland.

A proposal before the Geneva-based body seeks to extend by two years the mandate of a UN investigation set up in 2022 after an earlier wave of protests. It also calls for an urgent inquiry into violations and crimes linked to the latest unrest, which began on Dec. 28, for potential future legal proceedings.

An Iranian lawmaker said lifting restrictions on social media platforms would be a major mistake, warning it could harm the country internationally.

Abolfazl Aboutorabi, a member of parliament from Najafabad, said restoring access to restricted networks would allow government opponents to spread violent images.

“Lifting social media restrictions again is a big mistake,” Aboutorabi was quoted as saying. He added that opposition groups were ready to act once limits were removed, which he said could bring international consequences for Iran.