[Repost] Iran’s Internet Blackout Concealing Atrocities – Human Rights Watch

13 January 2026

https://www.hrw.org/news/2026/01/12/irans-internet-blackout-concealing-atrocities

(Beirut) – Iranian authorities have significantly intensified their lethal crackdown on protesters since January 8, 2026, with credible reports that security forces are carrying out large-scale killings across the country. Since January 8, the authorities have imposed a country-wide internet blackout, which has caused severe restrictions on communications.

Iranian civil society organizations and the media have reported that the death toll has reached the thousands. However, the ongoing internet shutdown has severely hampered efforts to corroborate unlawful killings and other violations. Human Rights Watch is documenting emerging evidence of killings, including verifying video footage from morgues and hospitals, as well as witness accounts.

United Nations member countries should urgently demand that Iranian authorities stop the bloodshed, grant immediate and unhindered access to the UN-mandated Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, and restore access to the global internet.

A prevailing climate of systemic impunity has enabled Iranian authorities to repeatedly commit crimes under international law, including murder, torture, rape, and enforced disappearances to eliminate and punish dissent. This underlines the importance of international scrutiny as well as the collection and preservation of evidence to facilitate future criminal prosecutions, Human Rights Watch said. 

The following quote can be attributed to Philippe Bolopion, executive director of Human Rights Watch: 

“Reporting of Iranian security forces’ large-scale killings of protesters and other heinous violations and crimes has continued to emerge despite the internet blackout across the country. Those detained are at risk of secret, arbitrary executions as authorities have accused protesters of being ‘enemies of God,’ which carries the death penalty. The UN Security Council and Human Rights Council should urgently address the escalating atrocities and put Iranian officials and security forces on notice that justice will one day catch up to them.”

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[UN News] Myanmar: ‘Meaningful action’ needed to stop the slaughter’ 

6 February 2022

1 February 2022

https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/02/1110992

“Now is not the time for more rhetoric, it is time for meaningful action”, said Tom Andrews, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar.

“The international community must take strong, meaningful steps to cut the junta’s access to weapons, funds and legitimacy”.

People ‘deserve better’
The UN expert reiterated the urgent need for the Security Council to impose an arms embargo on the Myanmar military and significantly increase financial pressure on the junta.

“The fact that one year has elapsed with no Security Council Resolution imposing a comprehensive arms embargo – as arms continue to flow to the junta and kill innocent people – is unacceptable”, he stated.

“The people of Myanmar deserve better from the United Nations”.

‘Criminal enterprise’

The Special Rapporteur said that he would soon release a report identifying the weapons in the junta’s arsenal and where they came from.

Mr. Andrews pointed out that the military junta is functioning as “a criminal enterprise”, committing murder, torture, abductions and forced displacement – while stealing revenue and seizing assets of the people of Myanmar.

“What is worse, they appear to be getting away with it. Their attacks continue unabated. The suffering of the Myanmar people is steadily increasing”, he continued.

Recent months have seen an even further escalation of violence, and a campaign of terror now widespread across the country.

“I have received more reports of mass killings, attacks on hospitals and humanitarian targets, and the bombing and burning of villages”, he added.

Unwavering commitment
“I am amazed at the resilience of the Myanmar people. In the face of aerial assaults, and mass arrest and torture, they continue to strike, to protest, to speak out and to defend themselves. They need and deserve stronger support from the international community”, he said. “The best and worst of humanity is unfolding in Myanmar”.

Special Rapporteurs are appointed by the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation. The positions are honorary and they are not paid for their work.

New UN humanitarian response plan
Meanwhile, Jens Laerke, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN humanitarian office, OCHA, noted that the newly published 2022 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for Myanmar requests a record $826 million to assist 6.2 million people in need.

The 2022 plan represents double the amount requested last year, reflecting a growing crisis that has plunged an estimated 14.4 million people into humanitarian need.

Since the military coup, conflict and insecurity has continued, displacing more than 400,000 people to camps, displacement sites and with host communities. Many others have crossed into Thailand and India or sought refuge in the jungle, lacking adequate food, shelter, sanitation and medical care.

Sick and hungry
The economic and political turmoil of 2021, combined with the devastating impact of COVID-19, have driven half the population into poverty, with many unable to feed their families.

Over 13 million people are moderately or severely food insecure and malnutrition is expected to worsen among children, unless parental support is increased.

“Our ability to save lives and reduce suffering on this scale will depend on increased funding, improved access and removal of bottlenecks such as visa delays and banking restrictions”, said Mr. Laerke.

“Humanitarian agencies must be allowed access to displacement sites to conduct needs assessments and deliver lifesaving aid including food, water and health care”, he added.

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