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Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
Iran: UN Human Rights spokesperson Jeremy Laurence urges authorities to end violent repression and calls for accountability
“We are horrified by the mounting violence directed by security forces at protesters across Iran, as reports indicate hundreds have been killed and thousands arrested,” the spokesperson for UN Human Rights said.
“The killing of peaceful demonstrators must stop. The labelling of protesters as ‘terrorists’ to justify violence against them is unacceptable,” Laurence said.
“We urge the Iranian authorities to halt immediately all forms of violence and repression against peaceful protesters and to restore full access to the internet and telecommunication services,” he added.
“As we saw most recently in 2022, broad sections of the Iranian population have taken to the streets, demanding fundamental changes in the governance of their country,” he added.
“And once again, the authorities’ reaction is to inflict brutal force to repress legitimate demands for change,” he stated.
“This cycle of horrific violence cannot continue. The Iranian people and their demands for fairness, equality and justice must be heard. All killings, violence against protesters, and other human rights violations must be investigated in line with international human rights norms and standards, and those responsible held to account,” he said.
“Several hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed by the number of casualties, including children. Nationwide internet and telecommunications shutdowns are one of the main challenges to full verification. There are reports indicating that members of security forces have also been killed,” Laurence said.
“It is also extremely worrying to see public statements by some judicial officials indicating the possibility of the death penalty being used against protesters through expedited judicial proceedings” the spokesperson added.
“The High Commissioner stresses that Iranians have the right to demonstrate peacefully. Their grievances need to be heard and addressed, and not instrumentalised by anyone,” Laurence concluded.
ENDS
For more information and media requests, please contact
In Geneva:
Ravina Shamdasani: +41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org
Jeremy Laurence: +41 22 917 9383 / jeremy.laurence@un.org
Thameen Al-Kheetan: + 41 76 223 77 62 / thameen.alkheetan@un.org
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STORY: UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on confict-related sexual violence in Sri Lanka
TRT: 03:02
SOURCE: OHCHR/UNOG
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 13 January 2026 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND
SHOTLIST
- Exterior shots: Palais des Nations
- Interior shot: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “We are horrified by the mounting violence directed by security forces at protesters across Iran, as reports indicate hundreds have been killed and thousands arrested.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “The killing of peaceful demonstrators must stop. Thelabelling of protesters as ‘terrorists’ to justify violence against them is unacceptable.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “We urge the Iranian authorities to halt immediately all forms of violence and repression against peaceful protesters and to restore full access to the internet and telecommunication services.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “As we saw most recently in 2022, broad sections of the Iranian population have taken to the streets, demanding fundamental changes in the governance of their country. And once again, the authorities’ reaction is to inflict brutal force to repress legitimate demands for change.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “This cycle of horrific violence cannot continue. The Iranian people and their demands for fairness, equality and justice must be heard. All killings, violence against protesters, and other human rights violations must be investigated in line with international human rights norms and standards, and those responsible held to account.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “Several hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed by the number of casualties, including children. Nationwide internet and telecommunications shutdowns are one of the main challenges to full verification. There are reports indicating that members of security forces have also been killed.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “It also extremely worrying to see public statements by some judicial officials indicating the possibility of the death penalty being used against protesters through expedited judicial proceedings.”
- Cutaways: briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English)— Jeremy Laurence, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): “The High Commissioner stresses that Iranians have the right to demonstrate peacefully. Their grievances need to be heard and addressed, and not instrumentalised by anyone.”
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