New Delhi: US President Joe Biden said he was stunned by the ongoing anti-hijab protests in Iran, adding that he stands with the "brave women" in Iran, AFP reported. The mass demonstrations were sparked by the death of a 22-year-old woman who was arrested by the morality police in September.
While addressing a group of protesters, holding "Free Iran" signs, at a college in Irvine, California, Joe Biden said, "I want you to know that we stand with the citizens, the brave women of Iran".
"It stunned me what it awakened in Iran. It awakened something that I don't think will be quieted for a long, long time," Biden was quoted by AFP.
Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman died in September, while in the custody of the morality police of Iran. She was arrested for allegedly breaching the Islamic republic’s strict dress code for women. She died three days after falling into a coma following her arrest in Tehran.
According to an Oslo-based Iran Human Rights group, over 100 people have died since the protests began. During demonstrations, women burnt their headscarves and cut their hair.
The unrest has continued despite what Amnesty International called an "unrelenting brutal crackdown" that included an "all-out attack on child protesters" -- leading to the deaths of at least 23 minors.
Irvine, near Los Angeles, has a large Persian community, Biden spoke briefly about the protests ahead of a speech on lowering costs for American families in the city of Orange County.
"Women all over the world are being persecuted in various ways, but they should be able to wear in God's name what they want to wear," said Biden.
He added, that Iran should stop the violence against its people simply because they are practising their fundamental rights.
He thanked the Persian community for speaking out, AFP reported. "I want to thank you all for speaking out," he told the local Persian community.