Urgent action demanded over the death of Mahsa Amini

19th September 2022

Press release

For immediate use

The Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People’s Rights (CODIR) has condemned the death in detention of 22 year old, Mahsa Amini, a young woman visiting Tehran with her family.

Ms Amini was detained by the regime’s morality police last week for allegedly breaking the rules on what the regime deems to be appropriate dress for women in public.

Iran’s mandatory hijab law has been enforced since 1981 and has long been challenged by many Iranian women.  In recent years protests have escalated with some women appearing in public without the required head scarf and loose robe.   Since 2017, when dozens of women publicly took off their headscarves in a wave of protests, the authorities have adopted tougher measures.  Ms. Amini’s family dispute that their daughter was breaking the rules.

Security forces claim that Ms. Amini suddenly collapsed from a heart attack at the detention centre, while receiving “educational” training on hijab rules.  This claim is disputed by Ms Amini’s family, who say that she was perfectly healthy before her arrest.

The security forces version of events is further undermined by the account of Ms Amini’s brother, Kiarash Amini, who was with her when arrested by the morality police.  Mr Amini was waiting outside the detention centre on the day of his sister’s arrest when he heard screaming from inside.   Following the arrival of an ambulance a witness coming out of the centre told him that security forces had killed a young woman inside. There are reports that Ms Amini had been punched in the head before collapsing.

CODIR Assistant General Secretary, Jamshid Ahmadi, has expressed particular concern about the harsh laws imposed upon women in Iran and the tragic death of Mahsa Amini.   

“The death of Mahsa Amini is tragic and should not have happened.  It is a direct consequence of the punitive attitude towards women taken by the authorities of the Islamic Republic.  The morality police have clearly been over zealous in their eagerness to enforce an unjust law and to coerce Mahsa into submission.  They have robbed a young woman of her life,” he said, “This is further evidence that, for the theocratic regime in Iran, the basic human and democratic rights of all citizens, women in particular, have no value and can be disregarded.”

Mr Ahmadi confirmed the long standing and ongoing commitment of CODIR to support the popular struggles of Iranian people to move towards the establishment of a modern, secular and democratic government.

Protests at the death of Ms Amini have broken out across Iran and social media posts have shown protesters chanting “death to the dictator” as drivers sounded their car horns in a Tehran square close to the hospital where Ms Amini died.  In the days following Ms Amini’s death a number of prominent social figures, artists, filmmakers, sports personalities, writers, politicians and leaders of progressive organisations in Iran have voiced their condemnation of the regime.  They have called for the disbandment of the morality police altogether and the punishment of those responsible for the arrest and mistreatment of Ms Amini.

CODIR has called for all forces committed to peace and progress, and supporting the struggle for human and democratic rights in Iran, to condemn the murder of Ms Amini through issuing statements in solidarity with those campaigning for peace and justice in Iran.

ENDS

Further information for Editors

Contact Information for CODIR:-

Postal Address:
B.M.CODIR
London
WC1N 3XX
UK
Website: www.codir.net
E-mail: codir_info@btinternet.com

Further information on CODIR

CODIR is the Committee for the Defence of the Iranian People’s Rights.  It has been established since 1981 and has consistently campaigned to expose human rights abuses in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

CODIR has worked closely with the trade union movement in the UK, the peace movement, all major political parties and Amnesty International to press the case for an end to torture in Iran’s prisons.  Major trade unions in Britain are affiliated to CODIR and support its campaign for peace, human and democratic rights, and social justice in Iran.

CODIR has published Iran Today, its quarterly journal, since 1981, explaining the latest developments in Iran and the most effective way that the British public opinion could demonstrate its solidarity with the people of Iran.

In recent years CODIR has worked closely with Stop the War Coalition and has been vocal against any form of foreign intervention in the internal affairs of the nation.

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