Description

On July 6, 1999, the newspaper "Salam", which had positions close to the Combatant Clerics Assembly and its headquarters in Tehran, was confiscated for five years and its editor-in-chief, Mohammad Musavi Khoiniha, was deprived of journalistic activities for three years. This confiscation took place after a confidential letter from Saeed Emami, former deputy of the Ministry of Intelligence, was published in the newspaper, in which he called for increased surveillance and censorship of the media. The closure of the Salam newspaper led to widespread protests by students and one of the largest demonstrations in the history of the Islamic Republic. On July 8, 1999, in response to the student gatherings, security forces, including plainclothes agents, the Revolutionary Guards, and the Basij, stormed the dormitory of Tehran University, resulting in the injury and killing of several students.

Events:
- Closure of Salam newspaper: On July 6, 1999, this newspaper was confiscated for five years and Mohammad Musavi Khoiniha, its editor-in-chief, was deprived of journalistic activities for three years due to the publication of a confidential letter advocating censorship of the media.
- Protests and attacks on dormitories on July 8, 1999: In response to the protests following the closure of Salam newspaper, security forces raided the student dormitories of Tehran University. This attack led to further protests and unrest.
- Arrests, disappearances, and torture: It is estimated that 1200 to 1400 protesters were detained with evidence of disappearances and torture. The Iranian Judiciary only pursued a few lower-ranking soldiers with mild sentences, while others involved in the attack on the university dormitory were acquitted.

Legal and human rights considerations:
- Right to life: The reported killings during the raid on the dormitories violated their right to life.
- Prohibition of torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment: The brutal attacks on students and the torture of detained protesters violated the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.
- Crimes against humanity:
- Killing: The killings of students during the raid on dormitories can be classified as a crime against humanity.
- Torture: The torture of detained protesters is considered a crime against humanity.
- Imprisonment: The severe deprivation of freedom through the detention of protesters can be recognized as a crime against humanity.
- Enforced disappearance: The disappearance of protesters during the unrest is tantamount to enforced disappearance and a crime against humanity.
- Persecution and torture: Attacks on students and protesters for political reasons constitute persecution and a crime against humanity.
- Right to freedom and personal security, prohibition of arbitrary arrest and detention: The mass arrests and detention of 1200 to 1400 protesters, as well as evidence of enforced disappearances, violated the right to freedom, personal security, and the prohibition of arbitrary arrest and detention.

The closure of Salam newspaper on July 6, 1999, and the violent response to student protests, including death, injury, detention, disappearances, and torture, raise serious concerns about the actions of security forces in violation of the right to life, prohibition of torture, and arbitrary detention. These actions, accompanied by limited and lenient investigations by the Iranian Judiciary, can be classified as crimes against humanity

Categories

• Suppression of Protests

Violation Types

• Right to Life
• Right to freedom and personal security
• Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion
• Freedom of Assembly and Association
• Prohibition of Torture or to Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• Right to Fair and Public Trial
• Protection of all Persons from Enforced Disappearance
• Freedom of Movement

Possible International Crimes

• Murder as a crime against humanity
• Torture as a crime against humanity
• Imprisonment and imposing severe restrictions on individuals' freedom as a crime against humanity
• Forced abduction as a crime against humanity
• Harassment and torture as crimes against humanity, in political, racial, national, ethnic, cultural, religious, and gender domains