Report of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Iran
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran, Mai Sato, stated that the dangerous rhetoric used by Iranian authorities labeling peaceful protesters as "terrorists", "rioters", or "mercenaries" serves to justify brutal crackdowns and ignores the domestic nature and interconnectedness of the uprising.
She further noted that both the Supreme Leader of Iran and the heads of the three branches of government had called for harsh measures. She emphasized that the use of lethal force must only be a last resort to protect life and must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate. Sato stated that she had received numerous videos showing that the use of lethal force against unarmed protesters violated these principles. The excessive use of force and the issuance of death sentences against peaceful protesters, she said, demonstrate a blatant disregard for the rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, and the right to life. She added that even if a death sentence is not carried out, merely sentencing protesters to death is unlawful and designed to silence dissent. [2] [4]
On 22 January 2026 (2 Bahman 1404), Sato stated that the death toll from the January 2026 Iranian protests could exceed 36,500 people. [5]
Defense by Iran's ambassador to the United Nations
Ali Bahreini, the permanent representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, stated that when the protests began, Iran fully recognized the people's right to peaceful assembly and considered dialogue with protesters. He claimed that on 8 and 9 January 2026, the protests entered a second phase characterized by organized violence, including destruction of public property and armed actions against civilians and law enforcement forces. According to what he described as verified statistics, 3,117 people were killed during the unrest, of whom 2,127 died as a result of what he termed terrorist operations. He asserted that these figures were not fabricated, but the result of nationwide investigations supported by legal documentation. [2]
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