The United States marked the third anniversary of Mahsa "Jina" Amini’s death in Iran's police custody on Monday with a statement condemning the Islamic Republic leadership and pledging continued pressure on Tehran.
“On the third anniversary of her savage murder, we honor the memory of Mahsa Zhina Amini, whose young life was cut short by the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Thomas “Tommy” Pigott, principal deputy spokesperson at US State Department said in a statement on Monday.
“Her murder, along with so many others, is a damning indictment of the Islamic Republic’s crimes against humanity. The United States will continue to work with allies and partners around the world to ensure that the regime’s atrocities are met with accountability, justice, and resolve,” Pigott added.
Amini, 22, died on September 16, 2022, after being detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating mandatory hijab rules. Her death sparked months of protests dubbed Woman Life Freedom uprising during which at least 551 protesters, including 68 children, were killed, according to rights groups, and thousands detained.
Iran has executed 12 detainees linked to the 2022 protests, with eight others sentenced to death and awaiting execution, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
Pigott accused Iran of ruling “through torture and execution,” neglecting its own people while funding regional militias.
“The United States stands with the people of Iran in their calls for dignity and a better life. We will continue to apply maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic, ensuring it is held accountable for actions against its people and against its neighbors,” Pigott said.
