The Association’s Statement re Human Rights Watch report, A Torture Case

A report published by Human Rights Watch today, “Iran: Ukraine Airline Victims’ Families Harassed, Abused”, adds to the mounting revelations that Iranian government violated international human rights law in its attack on Flight PS752 and its subsequent response. This report documents how Iran suppressed protests and unjustly sentenced innocent protestors to years in prison. Human Rights Watch makes important findings regarding threats, arrests, torture, and intimidation. Seventeen months later, Iran continues that conduct in respect of victims’ families. This report builds on the findings of Dr. Agnès Callamard, UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, which also found that Iran violated international human rights law in its attack on Flight PS752.

In this report we learn about abuses against victims’ family members, interference with burial rites and memorial gatherings, mishandling of bodies and valuables, and lack of transparency in domestic investigation. We appreciate all the family members who participated in this report to tell their painful story.

We urge the international community to respond to Iran’s crimes and human rights violations regarding Flight PS752, and to reject any claims by Iranian regime unless such time that an impartial and fully transparent investigation reveals the truth behind the murder of our families.