New Delhi: Following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in their custody last week, the United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on Iran's morality police, as reported by the news agency AFP. In a statement, the US Treasury Department said it was sanctioning the morality police "for abuse and violence against Iranian women and the violation of the rights of peaceful Iranian protestors."
“Amini was a courageous woman whose death in Morality Police custody was yet another act of brutality by the Iranian regime’s security forces against its own people,” Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen said in a statement Thursday.
“We condemn this unconscionable act in the strongest terms and call on the Iranian government to end its violence against women and its ongoing violent crackdown on free expression and assembly,” Yellen said.
At least 31 civilians have been killed in action by security forces during protests in Iran. All of them were protesting after the death of Mahsa Amini in her arrest by the police. In fact, demonstrations in Iran started last week, when 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in police custody.
Also Read: 31 Civilians Killed In Crackdown By Security Forces On Anti-Hijab Protesters In Iran: Report
Amini was taken into custody for not wearing a mask properly. Government officials had said that Amini died of a heart attack, but Amini's family has claimed that Amini had no complaints of a heart ailment before this.
Amini was taken into custody by the police in Iran 'in charge of ensuring morality' to the educational center. The video released by the police showed she suddenly collapsed during dress training, but critics called it an edited video. Amini's last rites were performed on Saturday. After that, when this news spread, there have been protests in many cities of Iran. Unrest has spread, especially in Kurdistan province where Amini died.
Internet watchdog NetBlocks has said that the internet has been almost completely disrupted in many parts of the country since Monday.