On Tuesday (20), the UN voiced concern at the violence used by Iranian authorities against demonstrations across the country to protest the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman detained by customs police.
Nada Al-Nashif, the United Nations Acting High Commissioner for Human Rights, expressed her “concern over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the Iranian ‘customs police’ while enforcing strict rules regarding the headscarf.” .
In a statement, the High Commissioner said that Al-Nashif also expressed concern over the “violent response by the security forces to the demonstrations that ensued”.
“Mahsa Amini’s tragic death and allegations of torture and ill-treatment must be promptly, impartially and effectively investigated, particularly by a competent and independent authority that ensures her family’s access to justice and truth,” Al said. said. -Nashif.
According to High Commissioner spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani, “two to five people died” in demonstrations about his death in Tehran and other cities of the country. He reported that the police were “shooting with live bullets” and using tear gas against the protesters.
Al-Nashif also underlined that mandatory hijab laws are worrisome in Iran and that going out without a hijab in public could lead to arrest.
customs police
Mahsa Amini is 22 years old and was from the Kurdistan region (northwest of the country). While visiting Tehran with his family on September 13, he was arrested by the customs police for “wearing inappropriate clothes”.
This special unit is tasked with ensuring that the country’s strict dress code is followed.
The young woman died in the hospital on Friday (16), after being in a coma for three days.
According to Iranian officials, Amini died of natural causes, but according to the information released by the High Commission, she was severely beaten and her head was hit by a police vehicle.
International support and demonstrations
Many French politicians, including the Speaker of the National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet, have expressed their support for “Iranian women fighting for their freedom”.
“Mahsa Amini was 22 years old and she just wanted to be free. Today she is no longer with us. Courage is a woman in Iran. It belongs to all women who speak up for their freedom. Their struggle is ours,” Braun-Pivet wrote on Twitter.
Image: AFP
New demonstrations were held in Iran on Monday, particularly in Tehran and the country’s second city, Mashhad, to condemn Amini’s death.
According to the Iranian agency Fars, “hundreds of people were shouting slogans against the authorities, hundreds of them took off their headscarves” in the center of the capital. A video released by the agency shows a crowd of mostly veiled women chanting “Death to the Islamic Republic”.
“The police detained several people and dispersed the protesters with sticks and tear gas,” Fars said.
Customs police continue to deny their responsibilities in the case.
(with information from AFP)
source: Noticias
