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- 鈥淪hooting and arresting people will simply add to the anger and desperation,鈥� said Michelle Bachelet
- The protests are in Khuzestan province which is home to much of Iran鈥檚 ethnically Arab population
LONDON: The UN鈥檚 leading human rights official on Friday condemned recent deadly assaults on protesters in Iran.
High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called on the Iranian government to focus on addressing the 鈥渃hronic water shortage鈥� in Khuzestan province, which sparked the demonstrations, rather than 鈥渃rushing protests.鈥�
鈥淭he impact of the devastating water crisis on life, health and prosperity of the people of Khuzestan should be the focus of the government鈥檚 attention, not the protests carried out by people driven to desperation by years of neglect,鈥� she said.
鈥淚 am extremely concerned about the deaths and injuries that have occurred over the past week, as well as the widespread arrests and detention.鈥�
The UN and rights groups have condemned the Iranian regime鈥檚 鈥渄isproportionate鈥� response to the protests. According to Amnesty International, at least eight people have been killed by security forces since the demonstrations began last week in the south-eastern province, which is home to many of the country鈥檚 ethnically Arab residents.
Khuzestan used to be the country鈥檚 main and most reliable source of water, according to the UN, but 鈥渕ismanagement over many years, including the diversion of water to other parts of the country, coupled with nationwide droughts, has drained the province of its precious, life-saving resource.鈥�
BACKGROUND
One person was shot dead when rioting erupted in western Iran late on Thursday in sympathy with the drought-hit province of Khuzestan.
Desperate for water, people took to the streets chanting: 鈥淚 am thirsty, water is my right.鈥� Bachelet said that the UN, through a General Assembly ruling, agrees that access to safe drinking water is a basic human right.
鈥淲ater is indeed a right,鈥� she said. 鈥淏ut instead of heeding the legitimate calls by citizens for that right to be upheld, the authorities have for the most part concentrated on oppressing those making those calls.
鈥淭he situation is catastrophic and has been building up for many years. The authorities need to recognize that and act accordingly. Shooting and arresting people will simply add to the anger and desperation.鈥�
Ethnic minorities in Iran have long faced oppression at the hands of the state, which favors Shiites and Persian-speakers to the detriment of religious and linguistic minorities. Non-Persian ethnicities, including Arabs, Azeris, Kurds and others, face economic marginalization, unfair treatment by the legal system, disappearances and even executions following sham trials, according to Amnesty.
Last year, 鈥渆thnic and religious minorities faced entrenched discrimination as well as violence,鈥� the organization said in a report. 鈥淓nforced disappearances, torture and other ill treatment were committed with impunity on a widespread and systematic basis.鈥�
However it 鈥渋s never too late to change tack,鈥� Bachelet said. 鈥淎nd the government of Iran desperately needs to change tack, beginning with issuing clear instructions to security forces to abide by international standards on the use of force.鈥�