A group of individuals affected by the government response amid the 2022 "Zan, Zendegi, Azadi" uprising has initiated a first-of-its-kind legal case targeting 4 dozen specified Iranian officials of suspected crimes against humanity.
Judicial Move Initiated in the Argentinian System
The petition for a legal inquiry to be initiated was submitted within the Argentinian courts. This step was made by a collective of Iranian nationals aided by a human rights documentation center. The Argentinian legal framework are noted for accommodating universal jurisdiction claims.
The complaint alleges that the reaction from state security apparatus to the unrest entailed "shooting lethal rounds, marker guns, metal pellets improperly used for short distances, and additional ammunition at civilians." The case further describes arbitrary roundups, abuse while imprisoned, and executions of participants that reportedly continue to this day.
Officials Named Anonymously
Certain agents representing the various branches of Iran's law enforcement have been listed in the filing, but their identities are currently being kept confidential.
Victim Testimonies Drive the Complaint
One of the litigants, UK-based Mahsa Piraei, explained that the aim "is far from personal vengeance in a individual way, but accountability and transparency." Her parent, Minoo Majidi, 62 years old, was killed by gunfire in late 2022. Forensic analysis revealed more than 167 harmful shots had been shot at her posterior at extremely close proximity. She had been attending a street protest over the killing of Mahsa Amini, a young Kurdish woman who lost her life after arrest.
Piraei, among Majidi's three offspring, was residing abroad at the period of her mother's brutal death. She went back to Iran at significant personal danger to visit her grave. Her sibling Roya shared a photograph of herself by their mother's grave with her head shorn on a private social media account. A contact shared the photo, which went viral, ultimately forcing Roya to flee for Turkey.
Piraei stated: "Through court documents and record-keeping the goal is to preserve evidence, identify offenses and prevent erasure." She characterized her parent's killing as "systematic in nature but part of a widespread tactic."
Additional Complainants Are Victims of Blinding
The other two complainants who are named are Kowsar Eftekhari and Mersedeh Shahinkar, both victims of blinding at short distance by projectile weapons.
Eftekhari, a 23-year-old scholar, was shot in the face in late 2022. She had been in the streets for an extended period, seeing fellow demonstrators being struck by live ammunition and being struck herself with electronic batons. During a gathering on 12 October, she was at a demonstration near a educational institution when a undercover agent struck her with numerous paintballs from a range of about a meter. He then reportedly fired at her face when she did not respond to his demand to disperse. A footage of the incident showing blood flowing from her face circulated widely, and she was subsequently offered protection in Germany.
Shahinkar, 38 at the time when injured on October 18th, only realized what had transpired when she felt something warm on her eye. Fellow demonstrators advised her not to get into an emergency vehicle for fear of being transported to a police station. When she finally got to a medical clinic, a worker ordered her to leave because they would not treat demonstrators. A medical professional examined her and sent her to a medical center, where Shahinkar claimed a stone had unintentionally hurt her vision so she would not be turned away. She shared details of her condition online, and in the new year, individuals approached her, causing her to flee Iran. She later received a prestigious human rights prize as a symbol of the movement.
Universal Jurisdiction Provides Basis for Case
The group seeking the criminal investigation say that the complaint is not seen just as a legal complaint with little chance of a tangible resolution. Universal jurisdiction allows complaints to be examined in a different state even if the crime did not happen in that country and the suspect is not present there. The Argentinian system has some of the most liberal regulations on such matters in the world.
The doctrine of universal jurisdiction has previously resulted in dozens of guilty verdicts and the initiation of investigations covering offenses perpetrated in numerous countries. Cases are currently being prosecuted in multiple different countries.
As the application is solely for a legal inquiry, and this is not a case for damages, there is no claim by the individuals for financial restitution. This complaint would not constitute the first case against Iranian officials brought in Argentina.
