the country’ regular forces, notably through its Basij all-volunteer paramilitary force and the
IRGC Intelligence Organisation. The head of the IRGC reports directly to the Supreme Leader.
Thus, in effect he is not accountable to either the government or the judiciary. The Supreme
Leader, who appoints, dismisses and accepts the resignation of the chief commander of the
IRGC,11 is not accountable to any institution. Consequently, the possibility to challenge the
actions of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is severely limited. Similarly, detention
centres headed by the IRGC and other security and intelligence agencies escape government and
judicial scrutiny.12 13 14 15
Anti-government protests that erupted in late December 2017 were met with a heavy-handed
response by State forces and reportedly resulted in at least 21 deaths and thousands of arrests.16
In November 2019, authorities violently repressed protests across the country.17 18 Reportedly,
the death toll ranges from verified reports of 304,19 to unconfirmed reports of up to 1500
deaths,20 and the number of those injured by security forces is estimated to be several
thousands.21 Around 7,000 persons were arrested and detained according to a spokesperson for
Iran’s parliamentary committee for national security and foreign policy, with trials ongoing,
some resulting in long prison and death sentences.22 23 As of February 2021, the Islamic
Republic of Iran has not engaged in investigations consistent with international standards into the
reported incidents that occurred during and after the 2019 November protests.24
Numerous reports received by OHCHR have indicated that detainees are regularly kept in poor
conditions in Iranian prisons, notably due to overcrowding, serious lack of basic hygiene, lack of
11
Article 110, Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, English translation, https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wpcontent/uploads/constitution-english-1368.pdf
12
Radio Free Europe https://www.rferl.org/a/1078808.html
13
Ibid.
14
Rasaneh https://rasanah-iiis.org/english/monitoring-and-translation/reports/prisons-in-iran/
15
Radio Free Europe https://www.rferl.org/a/1078808.html
16
“Iran: protect constitutional right to protest”, ARTICLE 19, 3 January 2018. https://tinyurl.com/ycodj649
17
Iran: Protests met with violent crackdown and online censorship,” ARTICLE19, 19 November 2020.
https://www.article19.org/resources/iran-protests-met-with-violent-crackdown-and-online-censorship/
18
“Iran: Details released of 304 deaths during protests six months after security forces’ killing spree,” Amnesty International. 20
May 2020.https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/05/iran-details-released-of-304-deaths-during-protests-six-months-aftersecurity-forceskilling-spree/
19
Ibid.
20
“Special Report: Iran’s leader ordered crackdown on unrest - 'Do whatever it takes to end it',” Reuters. 23 December 2019.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-protests-specialreport/special-report-irans-leader-ordered-crackdown-on-unrest-dowhatever-ittakes-to-end-it-idUSKBN1YR0QR
21
“Iran: Details released of 304 deaths during protests six months after security forces’ killing spree,” Amnesty International. 20
May 2020. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2020/05/iran-details-released-of-304-deaths-during-protests-six-monthsafter-security-forceskilling-spree/
22
“November Protests; the details of the case of three prisoners who were sentenced to death,” HRANA.5 March 2020.
https://www.enhrana.org/november-protests-the-details-of-the-case-of-three-prisoners-who-were-sentenced-to-death
23
See more: Article 19, Small Media, Human Rights Activists in Iran, Impact Iran
https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCCPR%2fICS%2fIRN%2f42315
&Lang=en
24
Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, July 2020, https://documentsdds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N20/190/27/PDF/N2019027.pdf?OpenElement
3