Amnesty International Austria: Already 23 children killed in Iran protests
The protests in Iran continue. The regime is reacting with full force. So far, 23 dead children between the ages of 11 and 17 are known. He was either shot directly or bludgeoned, Schlack explains. Iranian families are not even allowed to mourn, many have to lie about the death of their children because they are under so much pressure from the security forces. “Wherever possible, attempts are made to suppress people’s voices,” says Schlack.
“Deeply inhumane regime”
The regime acts “deeply inhumane,” explains Schlack. Between September 19 and October 3 alone, Amnesty was able to verify the killing of 144 people. However, it can be assumed that the number is far higher. The 2019 protests alone killed 1,500 people in Iran.
This tough approach “is clearly intended to deter people,” emphasizes the Amnesty director. There are documents that show that the authorities are instructed from the very top “to act with the utmost severity”.
The media attention for Iran must now be used intensively. What is needed is a “continuous loud outcry from the international community,” explains Schlack. She is dissatisfied with the reactions so far and is calling for an “independent UN mechanism,” a special session that can clarify Iran’s actions that violate international and human rights.
“Horrent conditions in Evin”
The situation in Evin prison, where there was a major fire last Saturday, is particularly terrible. Followers, solitary confinement and sleep deprivation are the order of the day there. “Evin is the term of this regime,” emphasizes Schlack. Two Austrian-Iranian dual nationals are also currently being held there. For years they would be sitting there innocently in prison.
Future of nuclear deal uncertain
Ralph Janik, an expert in human and international law, says Iran will “don’t care” about the sanctions. It is only a “symbolic level” through which the EU wants to show that it is reacting and that there will probably be consequences. Nevertheless, Janik believes that there will be no “immediate change in behavior”. It is a signal “internally to the Iranian people and externally for other countries”.
The aim is to use the sanctions to hit those responsible in Iran. The EU will use so-called “smart sanctions” or targeted sanctions for this. Such are, for example, the freezing of accounts or entry bans. The sanctions are only intended to punish specific people and not the entire population.
The expert finds it difficult to assess whether there will be a civil war. How things will continue with the atom is still uncertain.