India opposes UN rights council motion criticising Iran’s crackdown on protests

India voted against a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Friday that criticised Iran for its response to recent anti-government protests.

The measure, which called on Tehran to end what it described as brutal repression, was adopted by the 47-member council. Twenty-five countries supported the resolution, 14 abstained, while seven—including India and China—voted against it.

The protests began on December 28 over economic grievances such as rising inflation, but later widened as demonstrations spread to more than 100 towns, with protesters calling for an end to clerical rule.

In the resolution, the council said it strongly condemned the use of force against peaceful demonstrators, which it said had led to thousands of deaths, and urged the Iranian authorities to uphold their international human rights commitments. It also called on the government to take steps to stop and prevent extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions.

Activists cited by the Associated Press estimated that at least 5,000 people had been killed during the crackdown. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency was quoted as saying the death toll included more than 4,700 protesters, over 200 pro-government demonstrators, 43 children and 40 civilians who were not involved in the unrest, making the protests among the deadliest in Iran in decades, according to Scroll.in.

The same group was cited as estimating that more than 26,800 people had been detained as part of a sweeping arrest campaign.

Iranian authorities, however, said on Wednesday that more than 3,100 people had died, claiming that over 2,400 of those killed were civilians and security personnel, while the remainder were described by the government as “terrorists.”

The Iranian government cut internet access and telephone services on January 8, largely isolating the country, while accusing the United States and Israel of fuelling the unrest. Although some restrictions were eased on January 13, messaging services reportedly remained suspended and internet access was limited to government-approved websites.

The communications blackout has hampered efforts by international human rights organisations to independently verify casualty figures.

On Friday, the UN body also decided to extend for another two years and expand the mandate of independent investigators tasked with collecting evidence to ensure accountability for alleged human rights violations in Iran