A new report from the United Nations’ Fact-Finding Mission, claims that religious minorities have been singled out by the Iranian government, as they cracked down on the country’s “Woman, Life Freedom” protests.

The advocacy paper: “They have dehumanized us”: Minority rights violations during the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement in the Islamic Republic of Iran published in August, explains that that religious minorities in Iran have been targeted, along with ethnic minorities, in the attempt to repress the movement and protests. It highlights a series of “crimes against humanity” in the state clampdown. The “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests were triggered by the death in custody of 22-year-old Jina Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Amini had been arrested by Iran’s “Morality Police” for supposedly wearing her hijab incorrectly. In the following mass demonstrations police and security forces responded with force, causing an estimated 551 deaths, either on the streets or later, in detention or by execution.

In a statement accompanying the report, the mission stated that “ethnic and religious minorities in Iran, in particular Kurd and Baluch minorities”, were targets of a “disproportionate” crackdown by the Government during nationwide protests.

The Fact-Finding Mission also highlighted many cases of structural discrimination and government repression impacting children from ethnic and religious minorities, among them, expelled Baha’i students and a Christian couple denied the right to adopt a child because of their religious beliefs. (Open Doors)