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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Chiara Fiorillo

Mahsa Amini: UK sanctions Iran's 'morality police' after death of young woman in custody

Britain has sanctioned Iran 's so-called "morality police" following the death of a 22-year-old woman in custody.

Mahsa Amini died after being arrested in Tehran and her death sparked protests across Iran and internationally, with demonstrators calling for the downfall of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Citing her death and the subsequent protests, Britain said it had sanctioned the morality police in its entirety, as well as its chief, Mohammed Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi, and the Head of the Tehran Division, Haj Ahmed Mirzaei.

The sanctions were made using British laws designed to encourage Iran to comply with international human rights law and respect human rights.

A demonstration in Paris to show solidarity with Iranian women (Olivier Donnars/Le Pictorium Agency via ZUMA/REX/Shutterstock)

They mean that those individuals named cannot travel to Britain and any of their assets held in Britain will be frozen.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: "For decades, the Morality Police have used the threat of detention and violence to control what Iranian women wear and how they behave in public.

"This is not acceptable. We stand with the people of Iran as they fight for their human rights in the face of shocking violence."

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said in a statement: "These sanctions send a clear message to the Iranian authorities - we will hold you to account for your repression of women and girls and for the shocking violence you have inflicted on your own people."

James Cleverly announced Britain's sanctions on Iran today (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/REX/Shutterstock)

Last week, the foreign ministry said it had summoned the Iranian charge d'affaires, Iran's most senior diplomat in Britain, over the crackdown on the protests.

On Saturday, Iranian security services continued their brutal crackdown on anti-hijab demonstrators firing into crowds of protesters and firing tear gas at them.

An Iranian human rights group said that security forces were shooting at protesters in two Kurdish cities.

People protest against the Iranian regime in London (REUTERS)

“Security forces are shooting at the protesters in Sanandaj and Saqqez,” said the group Hengaw.

It said riot police were also using tear gas.

More than 150 people have been killed, hundreds injured and thousands arrested by security forces since last month's death in custody of Mahsa.

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