US to turn UN's focus on Iran protests crackdown

An informal Security Council meeting will convene to discuss the situation in the republic

US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield. The US and Albania will hold an informal UN Security Council gathering to discuss civil unrest in Iran on Wednesday. Reuters

The US will next week turn the UN's focus on the protests in Iran that were set off by the death of a woman in police custody and look for ways to promote credible, independent investigations into Iranian human rights abuses.

The US and Albania will hold an informal UN Security Council gathering on Wednesday, according to a note seen by Reuters.

Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi and Iranian-born actress and human rights campaigner Nazanin Boniadi are scheduled to brief it.

“The meeting will highlight the repression of women and girls and members of religious and ethnic minority groups in Iran,” the note said. “It will identify opportunities to promote credible, independent investigations into the Iranian government's human rights violations and abuses.”

Independent UN investigator on human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, is also scheduled to address the meeting, which can be attended by UN member states and human rights groups.

Iran has been gripped by protests since the death of Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, 22, in police custody last month. The unrest has turned into a popular revolt by Iranians from across society, posing one of the boldest challenges to the clerical leadership since the 1979 revolution.

Iran has blamed its foreign enemies and their agents for the unrest.

Iran's mission to the UN in New York accused the US and its allies of abusing their platform “to further their political agenda”.

“Given its hypocrisy, use of a double standard, and selective application of human rights, we find the US's claims to support Iranian women to be deceptive and lacking in good faith,” it said.

Rights groups have said at least 250 protesters have been killed and thousands arrested in Iran. Women have played a prominent part in the protests, removing and burning veils. The deaths of several teenage girls reportedly during protests have fuelled anger.

Iranians protest in Tehran after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was detained by the morality police in September. AP Photo

Protests have intensified despite a vicious government crackdown that has left as many as 200 people dead, although estimates of the toll by rights groups vary. AP Photo

At least eight members of the security forces have also been killed or wounded during the unrest and there are signs that violent resistance could be intensifying. AP Photo

A fire burns at the office of the governor of Mahabad, in the West Azerbaijan province of Iran. AFP

Protesters gather in the a courtyard of Chitgar complex in western Tehran. AFP

Iranian protesters continue to defy a deadly crackdown by security forces. AFP

A woman cuts her hair at the grave site of Nika Shahkarami in the city of Khorramabad, during a reported memorial held to mark 40 days since the death of the 16-year-old. AFP

A woman not wearing a headscarf stands on top of a vehicle as thousands make their way towards Saqez, Mahsa Amini's home town, to mark 40 days since her death in police custody. AFP

Iranian riot police prepare to confront protesters the capital, Tehran. AFP

Iranian protesters surge forward amid clashes with riot police in Tehran. AFP

A crowd blocks an intersection during a protest to mark 40 days since Amini's death in custody. AP Photo

Iranian police arrive to disperse a protest in Tehran. AP Photo

Protesters chant at a vigil for Amini at the Khajeh Nasir Toosi University of Technology in Tehran. Reuters

Students at Sharif University of Technology attend a protest. AP Photo

Police outside Sharif University during a student protest. AP Photo

Students at the university protest over the death of Amini, who was in 'morality police' custody for allegedly breaking strict rules on head coverings for women. AP Photo

The students' banner says: 'No to mandatory hijab'. AP Photo

“The meeting will underscore unlawful use of force against protesters and the Iranian regime's pursuit of human rights defenders and dissidents abroad to abduct or assassinate them in contravention of international law,” said the note.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Friday urged the Iranian authorities to address the “legitimate grievances of the population, including with respect to women's rights”.

“We condemn all incidents that have resulted in death or serious injury to protesters and reiterate that security forces must avoid all unnecessary or disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters,” Mr Dujarric told reporters.

“Those responsible must be held to account.”