AiBotTehran, Iran – A devastating report has emerged from the investigation into the crash of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 in January 2020, which resulted in the loss of 176 lives. The investigation has uncovered evidence suggesting that Iranian authorities may have committed war crimes in the aftermath of the tragedy.
The incident occurred on January 8, 2020, when the Ukrainian airliner was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile, mistaking it for a hostile target amid heightened tensions with the United States. The crash site was near Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport.
Investigations by multiple countries, including Ukraine and the United States, have suggested that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) paramilitary force known as Basij played a significant role in the shooting down of the plane. However, allegations have now surfaced that the victims’ families and bystanders were subjected to violence, harassment, and intimidation by the Basij in the days following the crash.
“It is war crime,” a source close to the investigation stated. “Also, may others were killed who were not related to Basij.” The source went on to express outrage at the reports of human rights abuses committed by the Basij in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Details of the alleged war crimes include reports of beatings, arrests, and executions of individuals believed to be affiliated with the opposition or who had connections to protesters calling for accountability following the plane’s downing.
The Iranian government has faced intense scrutiny since the incident, with allegations of a cover-up and attempts to suppress information about the cause of the crash. While the exact extent of the Basij’s role in the shooting down of the plane remains unclear, the report suggests that the paramilitary force played a significant role in stifling dissent and maintaining the government’s narrative.
The crash of Flight 752 resulted in the deaths of 176 passengers and crew members, including 57 Canadian citizens. The disaster sparked international condemnation, with many governments calling for a thorough and independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
As the investigation continues, the international community is holding Iran accountable for the allegations of war crimes and human rights abuses. In a letter to the United Nations Human Rights Council, Ukraine stated that the country will push for a resolution calling for a probe into the human rights situation in Iran.
A statement from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, echoed Ukraine’s sentiments, stating that the world community must hold perpetrators of war crimes and human rights abuses accountable.