Anniversary of Mahsa; Marco Rubio and Alejandro Padilla Call for the Passage of the 'Mahsa Law' in the Senate

Marco Rubio and Alejandro Padilla, Republican and Democratic senators respectively, issued a joint statement on Friday to mark the first anniversary of the 'murder' of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini while in the custody of the morality police, urging the Senate to pass the 'Mahsa Law.' In the opening of their statement, they referenced the wave of public protests following Mahsa's 'tragic murder,' stating that her 'death' and the 'courage and strength of Iranian women in their struggle for fundamental freedoms' should not be wasted. According to the two senators, they must play their part in holding 'the Ayatollah and other leaders of Iran accountable for their violence against civilians and the ongoing wave of repression, censorship, and human rights violations by the regime.' Senators Rubio and Padilla called on their Senate colleagues to hold the dictatorship in Iran accountable for Mahsa's 'death' and the 'numerous human rights violations' by passing the 'Mahsa Law.' This statement comes as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia imposed a new round of sanctions against dozens of officials and institutions of the Islamic Republic to mark the first anniversary of Mahsa's death. Additionally, the U.S. sanctioned 25 Iranian individuals, three state-affiliated media outlets, and one internet company on the anniversary of Mahsa. The statement from the U.S. President on the anniversary of Mahsa emphasized the commitment to stand with the people of Iran.