Speaker: Thank you Mr. Chair. Kurdistan Human Rights deplores that the UN declaration of the rise of the minorities is falling far short as stated recently by the UN General Secretary Mr. Guterres. The reasons for Iran's nationwide protest, that began after the death of [inaudible], a young Kurdish woman, have shown that minorities are the first targets of states. As of the 30th of November, at least 448, including 61 children and 30 women have been confirmed killed by the Iranian Security Forces’s shootings. At least 125 Kurdish and 130 Balochi protestors were killed by Iranian security forces. Over half of the total number of victims of nationwide protests in Iran are Balochi and Kurds. And this shows that this [inaudible] of lethal force by the Iranian Security Forces against minorities in ethnic territories. In Iranian Kurdistan, the government has deployed heavy armored forces, in the Kurdish cities of [inaudible]. And people face an imminent risk of massacre. Under international law, minorities have a right to protection against violence. We call on the United Nations to take urgent action to stop the repression and put an end to Iran’s long history of impunity against minorities. Women. Life. Freedom. Thank you.

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