US Sanctions Iran's 'Morality Police'... "Responsible for Death of Woman Not Wearing Hijab"

Protests Demand Truth Behind Incident Expand

On the 21st (local time), clashes occurred between protesters and police during a demonstration condemning the suspicious death of Mahsa Amini (22) in Tehran, the capital of Iran.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] The U.S. government has sanctioned Iranian police and officials in connection with the death of an Iranian woman who died under suspicious circumstances while being investigated for not wearing a hijab.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced on the 22nd (local time) that it would place Iran’s morality police on the sanctions list for abuse and violence against Iranian women and for violating the rights of Iranians peacefully protesting.

OFAC pointed out that the morality police are responsible for the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested and detained for not wearing a hijab and died on the 16th. Seven leaders of Iran’s security authorities, including the morality police, the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), and related military units, were also sanctioned.

It also claimed that the institutions led by these officials routinely used violence to suppress peaceful protesters, civil society, dissidents, and women’s rights activists.

Currently, protests demanding a thorough investigation into this incident began on the 17th and are spreading across Iran, with security forces using firearms against demonstrators, resulting in more than ten deaths as of today.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stated, "Mahsa Amini was a brave woman, and her death is yet another brutal act by the Iranian regime’s security forces against their own people. We strongly condemn this unconscionable act and urge the Iranian government to end violence against women and the violent suppression of freedom of expression and assembly."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.