US condemns death of Iranian woman in religious police custody while demonstrations erupt in Tehran

The U.S. State Department has condemned the killing of an Iranian woman by police after she was detained for not wearing a hijab.

Anger over Massa Amini’s death is growing in Iran and around the world, according to reports from opposition groups.

The 22-year-old’s death on Friday sparked a new wave of resistance to Iran’s religious police and moral rules, including some prominent left-leaning members of the country’s parliament. Protests broke out in dozens of cities across the country, according to anti-government sources.

“The death of Martha Amini from her injuries while in police custody for wearing an ‘improper’ hijab is an appalling affront to human rights,” a spokesman for Joe Biden’s National Security Council told reporters. My thoughts are with Mahsa’s family and loved ones.”

“Women in Iran should have the right to wear what they want without violence or harassment. Iran must stop violence against women exercising their fundamental freedoms,” they continued. “We must be held responsible for Massa’s death.”

In the United States, protests continued with renewed fervor outside the United Nations headquarters and the nearby hotel where Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi was staying for a session of the United Nations General Assembly. Thousands of protesters gathered in the streets on Wednesday to demand justice.

“No one can and should remain silent about the brutal murder of 22-year-old Massa Amini by this brutal regime,” said Dr. “

Mariam Rajawi, the elected chairman of Iran’s National Resistance Council, added that Ms Amini’s death “lit the powder keg of our rebel cities”.

“Indeed, when this murderer entered the building that was supposed to serve the nations of the world, it was a time of shame and disgrace for those who appease the ruling religious fascism, it was a time to hurt the conscience of mankind, ‘ Ms Rajawi added. Mr. Raisi’s upcoming speech at the conference.

At least some seem to agree, as the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has called for an investigation into Ms Amini’s death and alleged torture.

The Biden administration is still negotiating with the Iranian leadership over a possible resumption of the 2015 nuclear deal signed by the Obama administration, Tehran and a handful of European countries.

Senator from the Council on Foreign Relations told independent On Tuesday, they had no update on the status of those talks, which were entirely opposed by more hawkish MPs.