U.S slams Iran’s Morality Police, others for death of Mahsa Amini

Last updated: 2022/09/22 at 5:13 PM

starconnect Published 22 September 2022

Mahsa Amini’s death sparks reaction from the United States

Late Mahsa Amini, whose death in Morality Police custody sparked protest in Iran

Admin l Thursday, September 22, 2022

WASHINGTON – The United States of America has imposed sanctions on Iranian Morality Police for the brutal death of 22 year old Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini.

Amini died in the custody of the Iranian Morality Police after being detained for purportedly wearing a hijab too loosely, fueling unrest in Iran.

Reacting to her death, Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken said the United State mourn with her loved ones and with the Iranian people.

“In response to this and other human rights violations in Iran—including the violent suppression of peaceful protests—the United States is imposing sanctions on Iran’s Morality Police and senior security officials who have engaged in serious human rights abuses, pursuant to Executive Order 13553.

“The Morality Police, an element of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF), arrests women for wearing “inappropriate” hijab and enforces other restrictions on freedom of expression”, Blinken said.

He added that the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is further designating Haj Ahmad Mirzaei and Mohammad Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi, both of whom are senior officials in the Morality Police.

“Additionally, OFAC is designating: Esmail Khatib, Iran’s Minister of Intelligence; Manouchehr Amanollahi, the LEF commander of the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province of Iran; Qasem Rezaei, the deputy commander of the LEF; KiyumarsHeidari, the commander of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army Ground Forces; and Salar Abnoush, the deputy commander of the Basij, a paramilitary militia and a subsidiary force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“These individuals have been all involved in the suppression and killing of non-violent protestors”, the statement added.

He emphasized that the Iranian government needs to end its systemic persecution of women and allow peaceful protest and that the United States will continue to voice support for human rights in Iran and hold those who violate them to account.