Human Rights Activist Farideh Arrested After Posting Video Criticizing Regime
Urges Countries Worldwide to Sever Ties with Iranian Government
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Sung-wook] Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran's nephew, has reportedly been arrested by authorities on charges of anti-government activities. Iran operates under a separation of powers system with the executive, legislative, and judicial branches under the Supreme Leader, who effectively wields absolute power.
According to Reuters and other sources on the 27th (local time), Iranian human rights activist Farideh Moradkhani was arrested after being questioned by prosecutors on the 23rd. Farideh is known to be the daughter of Badri, Khamenei's sister, and her father, Ali Moradkhani Arangeh, was classified as an anti-government figure opposing the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iranian Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) and others reported this news, adding that Farideh is currently detained at the notorious Evin Prison in Tehran. However, the Supreme Leader's office has not made any separate comments regarding Farideh's custody.
Farideh has been active as a human rights activist in Iran. Two days before her arrest, she posted a video criticizing the regime on social media (SNS). In the video, Farideh said, "The Iranian regime does not uphold any religious principles and knows no rules other than the use of force to maintain power," adding, "At this crucial moment in history, the world is watching the Iranian people courageously fight against the forces of evil with empty hands."
Farideh also called on the United Nations and world governments to sever relations with the Iranian government. She stated, "Governments around the world must stop supporting this murderous regime and cut diplomatic ties," and added, "Democratic countries should express solidarity and unity with the Iranian people by recalling their ambassadors from Iran and expelling Iranian representatives from their countries."
The United Nations Human Rights Council held a special session on the 25th and resolved to establish an international fact-finding mission to investigate violations during the Iranian authorities' response to protests. In a vote involving all 47 member states, 25 countries voted in favor, 16 abstained, and six countries including China, Armenia, Cuba, Eritrea, Pakistan, and Venezuela voted against.
Volker T?rk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, described human rights violations in Iran as "unacceptable and intolerable." He said, "One of the major issues is the continued lack of accountability for human rights abuses," and called for "an independent, fair, and transparent investigation process into allegations of human rights violations in accordance with international standards."
Anti-government protests sparked by the suspicious death of Mahsa Amini (22), who was arrested for improperly wearing a hijab, have continued for two months in Iran. On the 22nd, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) announced, "More than 300 people have died during the protests in Iran over the past two months, and the authorities' response to the protests is intensifying."
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