Calling the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests foreign-made riots and praising the forces that crushed them
Khamenei drew criticism for calling the protests that followed Mahsa Amini's death in morality police custody riots designed by the US and Israel, and for praising the Basij for confronting them. In March 2024 a UN fact-finding mission said the state's violent repression of the protests included violations amounting to crimes against humanity.
Editorial timeline of public reporting, not a legal finding.
- First comments on the protests blame the US and Israel - Reuters reported that in his first remarks on Mahsa Amini's death, Khamenei said it "deeply broke my heart" but gave full backing to the security forces facing the protests, comments it said could herald a harsher crackdown. Al Jazeera quoted him calling the unrest "riots" designed by the US and Israel, helped by "traitorous Iranians abroad". Iran's Khamenei backs police over Mahsa Amini protests, may signal tougher crackdown
- Praises the Basij for confronting "rioters" - Reuters and CNN reported that in a televised speech Khamenei praised the Basij paramilitary force for confronting what he called rioters, as the crackdown on the nationwide protests continued. CNN described the Basij as a force deployed to suppress the demonstrations. Iran's Khamenei praises Basij forces for confronting 'rioters'
- UN fact-finding mission says repression amounted to crimes against humanity - UN News reported that the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran said in its first report that the violent repression of peaceful protests and institutional discrimination against women and girls led to serious human rights violations, many amounting to crimes against humanity. Reuters reported the mission also found Mahsa Amini's death in custody was unlawful. Mahsa Amini's death in Iran custody was 'unlawful,' says UN mission