unsaveSave
Iran was responsible for the deadly violence that killed 22-year-old Mahsa Zhina Aminis, the United Nations says in a new report.
The stark statement came in a comprehensive first report submitted to the UN Human Rights Council.
The report also states that Iran used “unnecessary and disproportionate lethal force” to quell the demonstrations that erupted after Amini’s death, but also that Iranian security forces committed sexual abuse against prisoners.
The report also states that Iran has used methods that “constitute crimes against humanity, in particular murder, imprisonment, torture, rape and other forms of sexual violence, persecution, enforced disappearance and other inhuman acts”, as part of a widespread and systematic attack on civilians.
Mahsa Zhina Amini died in hospital in September 2022 after being taken away by the morality police, accused of improperly wearing her veil. Her death sparked a months-long storm of protests in the country where over 500 people died and over 22,000 were imprisoned.
Iran has denied responsibility for her death or that she was abused.
Iran has yet to comment on the report.