NEW YORK (dpa-AFX) – The United Nations has shown “increasing concern” about reports of deaths in the protests in Iran. “We condemn all incidents that result in the death or serious injury of protesters and reiterate that security forces must refrain from all unnecessary or inappropriate use of force against peaceful protesters,” a UN spokesman said on Friday (local time) in New York. Those responsible must be held accountable.
The government of Iran called on the United Nations to respect human rights and take care of people’s problems. The crisis can and should be brought under control through dialogue.
The trigger for the system-critical mass protests in Iran last month was the death of the young Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini. The vice squad arrested her for allegedly violating Islamic dress codes. The woman died in police custody on September 16. Since her death, thousands have been demonstrating across the country against the government’s repressive course and the Islamic system of rule./cah/DP/mis