The Australian Government has spoken out against the violent crackdown against protesters in Iran in light of the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, while she was held by the country’s morality police.
Ms Amini was with her brother in the country’s capital Tehran when she was arrested on September 13 for incorrectly wearing a hijab.
She fell into a coma shortly after collapsing at Vozara Detention Centre and died in hospital three days later.
Iranian Police have rejected allegations she was beaten up, saying the 22-year-old had a heart attack as she waited for other detained women at the police station.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said they had raised concerns into the circumstances surrounding Amini’s death in custody with the Iranian Embassy in Canberra.
“Australia supports calls led by the acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for a prompt, impartial investigation into Ms Amini’s death by an independent body, which ensures her family has access to truth and justice, with those responsible held to account,” the statement wrote.
The acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif cited reports Amini was beaten on the head with a baton, and her head banged against the vehicle by the morality police.
She called for an investigation by an independent competent authority to ensure Ms Amini’s family had access to “justice and truth”.
“The authorities must stop targeting, harassing and detaining women who do not abide by the hijab rules,” Ms Al-Nashif said.
Senators Wong and Gallagher said they supported the right of Iranian people to “protest peacefully” as they called on the Iranian authorities to “exercise restraints in response to ongoing demonstrations”.
“We are alarmed by reports that dozens of people have been killed and many more injured, including teenagers, during heavy-handed measures Iranian authorities have implemented to crack-down on ongoing protests,” the statement read.
“Reports of internet restrictions are also deeply troubling and suggest an effort to stifle freedom of expression.”
Hundreds of people have been arrested after protests erupted in 20 cities and 10 provinces across Iran, while the death toll has risen to 41.
Amnesty International reported shootings by security forces left at least 19 people dead, including three children on the night of September 21 alone.
Source » skynews