A growing chorus of voices in Iran is demanding an independent investigation into the death toll of recent protests, a move that has sparked controversy and raised important questions about transparency and accountability.
The Iranian government's recent announcement to oversee the publication of deceased protesters' names has been met with skepticism and calls for an unbiased inquiry. With an official death toll of 3,117, including security personnel, the government aims to quell claims of crimes against humanity and a potential death count of 30,000. However, this move has only fueled doubts and sparked a debate over the true extent of the tragedy.
Iranian reformists, including law professor Mohsen Borhani, a critic with first-hand experience of the Iranian justice system, argue that the government's identification process lacks transparency and is unlikely to resolve the dispute over the actual number of fatalities. Borhani suggests creating a dedicated website to announce the names of the deceased, ensuring a two-way flow of information and allowing citizens to contribute without fear of identification.
"The key to transparency is ensuring that information is not one-sided," Borhani emphasizes. "A website can facilitate this by allowing citizens to upload names and details openly, with a commitment to verifying and providing information on each announced name."
However, this proposal faces challenges, as families who identify fatalities risk retribution, especially if they claim their loved ones were killed by security forces. Despite these risks, many Iranians believe the death toll is significantly higher than the official count, as evidenced by the Tehran teachers' union statement demanding the release of detainees and describing the repression as one of the bloodiest chapters in Iranian history.
Reformist analyst Ahmad Zeidabadi highlights the deep-rooted distrust between the state and society, leading many to reject official data. He proposes inviting the United Nations to send an impartial fact-finding team to Iran, asking, "Why not entrust this task to a legitimate international body, ensuring opposition forces and countries cannot easily cast doubt on its findings?"
The Reform Front, an alliance of reformist groups, also calls for an independent committee to investigate and present a transparent report to the Iranian nation. Reformist lawyer Ali Mojtahedzadeh emphasizes the need for the government to address the root causes of distrust by strengthening civil society.
Former President Hassan Rouhani, in his first public statement since the protests, acknowledges the need for significant change, calling for the formation of political parties and an end to the filtering of electoral candidates. Meanwhile, an unofficial committee has been established to identify detainees, as security services continue their search for protest ringleaders, with an estimated tens of thousands of people in detention.
The number of detained children under 18 remains undisclosed, but teaching union websites are publishing verified photographs of child victims. Government officials have also been photographed visiting detainees, raising concerns about the treatment of those in custody.
Lawyers report that the majority of arrested individuals are from working-class families, born between 1980 and 1985, and are often the primary breadwinners. Initial sentences range from two to five years, and many cannot afford the required bail, highlighting the impact of these protests on vulnerable communities.
As the calls for an independent inquiry grow louder, the world watches with anticipation, hoping for a resolution that brings truth and justice to the Iranian people.
