“The rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly, enshrined in international law, must be fully respected and protected.”
The Secretary-General called on the Iranian authorities to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from unnecessary or disproportionate use of force.
It also called for measures to allow access to information, including the restoration of communications.
On the night of January 8, internet and mobile connectivity were cut, severely restricting access to information as violence escalated. The protests began on December 28 following the sudden collapse of Iran’s national currency and have since spread to at least 46 cities across the country.
Dozens of people – including at least five children – have died and many more have been injured. Iran’s parliament has also reported deaths among members of the security forces.