UN calls for ‘impartial’ investigation into Iranian woman’s death

UN says Amini’s loss of life and allegations of torture should be ‘promptly’ investigated, however Iranian police deny she was crushed.

The United Nations has demanded an unbiased investigation into the loss of life of an Iranian girl, Mahsa Amini, within the custody of Iran’s morality police, however authorities have denied allegations that she was crushed or mistreated.

“Mahsa Amini’s tragic loss of life and allegations of torture and ill-treatment should be promptly, impartially and successfully investigated by an unbiased competent authority,” Nada al-Nashif, the performing UN excessive commissioner for human rights, mentioned on Tuesday.

Amini’s loss of life has sparked widespread protests throughout the nation, together with within the capital, Tehran, the place demonstrators chanted slogans towards the federal government and clashed with police. They’re demanding an investigation into the loss of life of the 22-year-old girl and the dismantling of the morality police – referred to as Gasht-e Ershad or Islamic steering patrol.

The UN Human Rights Workplace mentioned Iran’s morality police have expanded their patrols in latest months, concentrating on girls for not correctly carrying hijab, a scarf worn by some Muslim girls.

The European Union spokesperson for exterior affairs mentioned the incident resulting in Amini’s loss of life was “unacceptable” and that “perpetrators of this killing should be held accountable”.

Amini was detained on September 13 and brought to a “steering centre” the place she collapsed and died three days later. Iranian police have denied mistreating Amini and say she died of a coronary heart assault. Authorities say they’re investigating the incident.

Protests erupted within the nation after her funeral and police fired tear fuel to disperse demonstrators on Saturday and Sunday. A number of protesters have been arrested, in keeping with native media. Al Jazeera couldn’t independently confirm the report.

A information web site affiliated with state TV mentioned 22 folks had been arrested at a protest within the northern metropolis of Rasht, the primary official affirmation of arrests associated to the protests.

Iran’s authorities didn’t instantly touch upon the assertion however has beforehand criticised the work of UN investigators inspecting rights points within the nation.

‘Ought to be alive’

The US additionally condemned her loss of life and referred to as on Iran to finish its “systemic persecution” of girls.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken took to social media and mentioned Amini “needs to be alive right this moment”.

“As an alternative, america and the Iranian folks mourn her. We name on the Iranian authorities to finish its systemic persecution of girls and to permit peaceable protest,” he tweeted.

The feedback from Blinken come amid tense talks between the US and Iran to revive the 2015 nuclear deal that former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from in 2018.

Iranian police launched closed-circuit video footage final week purportedly displaying the second Amini collapsed. However her household says she had no historical past of coronary heart bother.

Amjad Amini, her father, instructed an Iranian information web site that witnesses noticed her being shoved right into a police automobile.

“I requested for entry to [videos] from cameras contained in the automobile in addition to courtyard of the police station, however they gave no reply,” he mentioned. He additionally accused the police of not transferring her to the hospital promptly, saying she may have been resuscitated.

Amini’s father mentioned when he reached the hospital, he was not allowed to see the physique, however he managed to get a glimpse of bruising on her foot.

Authorities then pressured him to bury her at night time, apparently to scale back the probability of protests. However Amini’s father mentioned the household satisfied them to allow them to bury her at 8am as an alternative. Amini, who was Kurdish, was buried on Saturday in her house metropolis of Saqez in western Iran.

Native actors, footballers, politicians and different celebrities have expressed their emotions and outrage throughout interviews with native media or social media, whereas a number of internationally famend figures, together with JK Rowling, have additionally commented.