The death of Mahsa Amini, 22, following her arrest by the so-called “morality police” stunned the world. According to a statement released by the UN, “Amini was arrested by Iranian morality police on September 13 for being perceived as dressed in an ‘inappropriate hijab. ‘Reports imply that she was severely beaten by members of the vice police during her arrest and transfer to the Vozara detention centre. He goes on to say that “Amini fell into a coma in the detention center and died in hospital on September 16. The Iranian government said he died from an attack on the center and claimed his death was due to herbal causes. However, some reports reported that Amini’s death was the result of alleged torture and ill-treatment.
The morality police used the risk of arrest and violence for the appearance and habit of women in public. In addition, Amnesty International reports that vice police “routinely subject women and women to arbitrary detention, torture and other ill-treatment for failing to comply with Iran’s abusive, degrading and discriminatory legislation on compulsory veiling. “
Mahsa Amini’s death sparked protests across Iran. Thousands of others took to the streets in cities across Iran, adding Tehran, Ilam, Kermanshah, Mahabad, Sanandaj, Sari and Tabriz. They demanded accountability for Mahsa Amini’s death, an end to violence and discrimination. opposed to women in Iran, and the end of their obligatory veil.
Nonviolent protests were met with excessive use of force, resulting in several deaths. Sarina Esmailzadeh, 16, was reportedly beaten to death at a protest in Gohardasht, Alborz province, on 23 September 2022. Nika Shakarami, 16, was reportedly killed by Iranian security forces a protest. Hadis Najafi, 23, was shot dead during a protest in the streets of Karaj.
These are just a few names of those who have paid the most value to protect the human rights of women in Iran.
According to Amnesty International, Iranian security forces killed at least 66 other people, including children, and injured many after firing live ammunition at protesters and bystanders in Zahedan province, Sistan and Balochistan on 30 September. Since then, another 16 people have been killed in separate incidents in Zahedan.
On October 12, 2022, a Norway-based non-governmental organization, Iran Human Rights, reported 201 deaths, 23 minors.
The true extent and nature of violence against protesters remains to be discovered. This is not an easy task, especially since in the wake of the protests and since September 19, the UN has reported prolonged closures in Tehran, Kurdistan provinces and others. portions of the country.
In reaction to this violence, on October 10, 2022, the British government imposed sanctions on the “morality police”, its leader Mohammed Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi and the head of the Tehran department Haj Ahmed Mirzaei, as well as senior political officials. and security. , adding, Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Basij force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, responsible for internal security in Iran, Hassan Karami, the commander of the NAJA special forces unit of the Iranian police, and Hossein Ashtari , the commander-in-chief of the Iranian police. As is known via the UK government, “The Basij Force, the NAJA special forces unit and the Iranian police in general have played a central role in the crackdown on protests across Iran in recent weeks, as well as in fuel-related protests in 2019”. The UK government also relied on reports of “the use of live ammunition against protesters, adding that when academics were blocked by security forces at Sharif University this week, and that the bodies of protesters killed for safety they were buried without the wisdom of the families”.
Other States should adhere to this technique of imposing specific sanctions against those most guilty of crimes. The foreign network must take all necessary measures to ensure justice and accountability for violence against women and women in Iran. and violence against protesters. Moreover, as the UN experts reaffirmed, “Iran will have to repeal all discriminatory laws and policies based on sex and gender, in accordance with foreign human rights standards. “This is for Mahsa Amini and many other women and women who paid the utmost courage to seek freedom.