EU to consider ‘restrictive measures’ against Iran over death of Mahsa Amini
ANKARA (AA) – The European Union’s foreign policy chief has said that the bloc will consider all options including “restrictive measures” against Iran for its crackdown on protests following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.
Speaking during a debate in the plenary of the European Parliament on Amini’s death and the ongoing demonstrations in Iran, Josep Borrell expressed his condolences to her family and hailed those who took part in the demonstrations.
Recalling that together with European Council President Charles Michel, he raised the issue directly with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Borrell stressed that the EU called “immediately” for the Iranian authorities to ensure the respect of fundamental rights of Iranian citizens.
“Unfortunately, it did not happen,” he said, adding many people lost their lives in the protests and many more have been injured and detained.
The number of those who have died in the weeks-long protests in Iran over Amini’s death on Sept. 16 has surged to 92, a Norway-based human rights group said Sunday.
The US has announced sanctions against Iran’s morality police, who detained Amini before she fainted and was later pronounced dead at a hospital, for alleged violence against women.
Amini’s family has accused the police of beating her which it said caused her to suffer a stroke. An Iranian government investigation into the incident is yet to conclude.