Systematic Massacre of Protesters and the Ongoing Crime of the Islamic Republic of Iran Against Humanity
Addressed to the global community committed to human rights and the preservation of human dignity
What is currently unfolding in Iran, according to the standards of international law, is neither an “internal disturbance,” nor a “disruption of public order.” The series of actions carried out by the governing authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran constitutes both the material and mental elements of crimes against humanity under customary international law and authoritative legal instruments, including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
The widespread and deliberate use of lethal force against unarmed protesters, direct firing at civilians, extrajudicial killings, the enforced disappearance of bodies, obstruction of information being provided to families, and the exertion of pressure, threats, and punishment against survivors are not isolated or reactive measures. Rather, they form part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population, carried out with the knowledge and intent of the ruling authorities.
Published visual and field evidence demonstrates the existence of a clear and consistent pattern of state conduct: the accumulation of unidentified bodies, the deprivation of victims of identity and human dignity, and an organized effort to conceal the true масш (scope) of the killings. These actions, in addition to constituting grave violations of fundamental human rights, reflect the complete collapse of the principle distinguishing legitimate governance from raw state violence.
The conduct of Iran’s ruling authorities represents a clear instance of continuous and serious violations of the state’s international obligations, including those arising from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the prohibition of arbitrary deprivation of life, the prohibition of enforced disappearance, and the principle of respect for the inherent dignity of the human person. Attempts to distort reality, deny events, and intimidate families are themselves part of the cycle of criminal conduct and serve to aggravate the international responsibility of the state.
What is occurring in Iran constitutes crimes against humanity, crimes that, under international law, are not subject to any statute of limitations. Responsibility lies with those who order, perpetrate, and enable these acts at all levels of decision-making.
In the face of such crimes, silence, inaction, or the normalization of political relations constitutes a violation of the principle of the shared responsibility of the international community to prevent grave international crimes. States, international institutions, and media organizations are obliged to refrain from any conduct that contributes to the continuation of impunity.
We call for specific and immediate actions:
- Formal recognition of these events as crimes against humanity;
- Activation of international fact-finding and accountability mechanisms;
- Initiation of legal proceedings to identify and prosecute those who order and carry out these crimes, based on the principle of universal jurisdiction;
- An end to all forms of political, diplomatic, and legal legitimization of a governing authority that commits grave international crimes;
- Effective support for the right of the people of Iran to peaceful protest, civil resistance, and the free determination of their own destiny.
This statement constitutes a legal, moral, and historical declaration of position.
International crimes are recorded, responsibilities endure, and accountability, even if delayed, is inevitable.
The widespread and deliberate use of lethal force against unarmed protesters, direct shooting of civilians, extrajudicial killings, the enforced disappearance of bodies, obstruction of communication with families, and the application of pressure, threats, and punishment against survivors are not isolated or reactive acts, but part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population.
Broad solidarity for freedom and equality in Iran
Congress of Federal Nationalities for Iran
January 13, 2026