Foreign Ministers of Five Countries: The Global Movement 'Women, Life, Freedom' Remains United

The foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States issued a joint statement on the occasion of the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death, expressing solidarity with women and girls in Iran and human rights defenders across all sectors of society who are continuously fighting for fundamental freedoms. In the statement released on Monday, September 16, they referred to Mahsa Amini's death as the catalyst for a nationwide protest movement led by women and girls, steadfast in their demands for a better future. The statement highlighted the 'brutal repression' by the Islamic Republic's security forces against dissent and protests over the past two years, noting that despite the deaths of at least 500 people and the arrest of over 20,000, the 'global movement for Women, Life, Freedom' remains united. The foreign ministers also referenced issues raised in the United Nations Human Rights Committee's report, criticizing the Islamic Republic of Iran for continuing to violate human rights and for not cooperating with this recognized international committee. They called on the new Iranian government to fulfill its commitments to reduce pressure on civil society and to end the coercion in enforcing hijab laws. Additionally, they condemned the ongoing executions of women and largely unjust executions, warning that they would utilize all legal powers to hold Iranian human rights violators accountable, including through sanctions and visa restrictions. Simultaneously, the European Union also issued a statement on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death and the start of the 'Women, Life, Freedom' movement, urging the Islamic Republic to end all forms of systemic discrimination against women and to respect the rights of its citizens and ensure their fundamental freedoms. Mahsa (Jina) Amini was a 22-year-old woman from Saqqez who was arrested by morality police in Tehran on September 13, 2022, and died on September 25 after three days in a coma at Kasra Hospital in Tehran. Her death sparked widespread protests in Iran known as 'Women, Life, Freedom,' which faced severe governmental repression.