Iran protest crackdown amounted to crimes against humanity, UN mission says

The UN-backed investigative team has declared Iran's 2025-2026 protests crackdown to be a grave affront against humanity, with evidence of "murder, imprisonment, torture and inhumane acts" committed as part of a systematic assault on civilians. The Independent International Fact-Finding Mission to Iran detailed widespread killings across all 31 provinces, with Tehran, Karaj, Mashhad, Isfahan, and Rasht experiencing the highest loss of life.

Security forces were stationed on rooftops, firing assault rifles into crowds, while tear gas was used to trap protesters in narrow alleys, resulting in severe injuries and even permanent blindness for some victims. At least 221 children were killed, some as young as two years old. The Iranian government imposed a nationwide internet and communications blackout that lasted over five months, obstructing information flow and emergency response efforts.

Tens of thousands of people faced arbitrary arrests and detention, enduring torture, solitary confinement, and denial of legal counsel. Families were left in the dark about the whereabouts of their relatives, raising concerns about enforced disappearances. The mission also found Iranian authorities delaying or refusing to release bodies, in some cases demanding payments or forcing false statements.

The government intensified the use of the death penalty, executing at least 29 men between March and August 2026 in rushed trials, including five public executions. Over 70 people, including five women and three boys, remained at risk of execution. The UN mission identified US involvement in two air strikes that resulted in the deaths of at least 178 civilians, including children, from war crimes.

The strikes targeted a school in Minab, killing over 150 people, and a sports complex and residential area in Lamerd, killing 22 civilians. The UN urges Iran and the US to cease violations, provide reparations to victims, and work towards non-repetition and permanent peace.