The UK's Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador
, raises concerns about the
deteriorating human rights situation in Iran.
"Thank you High Commissioner and Special Rapporteur for your
powerful statements this morning.
Mr President,
Sarina Esmaelzadeh, 16 years old, in Karaj.
Minoo Majidi, a 62-year-old mother of 2, in western Kermanshah.
Sixteen year old Nika Shakarami, last heard from by a friend
whilst being chased down a street during a protest in Tehran,
identified by her parents in a morgue nine days later.
Hananaeh Kia, a 23-year-old hairdresser, recently engaged,
walking home from a dentist appointment in Nowshahr.
Hadis Najafi, a 22-year-old video blogger.
Mahsa Mogouyi, 18 years old, in central Fouladshahr.
Ghazaleh Chalabi, 33 years old – shot in the head while filming
protests in her hometown. Her last words, caught on film, were
“Do not be afraid”.
Mr President, High Commissioner, Colleagues,
We are all too familiar with the tragic story of Mahsa Jina
Amini. However - these names are just some of the other women and
girls who have lost their lives at the hands of the Iranian
security services since Mahsa died. We don’t have the time today
to pay tribute to them all by name. But let me send a clear
message to their families, their friends that their deaths will
not be forgotten.
Let us remember:
The more than 350 people killed.
The countless children that have lost their lives.
The thousands of people currently detained.
The people sentenced to death.
All for simply exercising their rights to freedom of expression
and assembly.
Sadly, this is not a one-off. Let’s also remember the hundreds
who died in the violent crackdown on protests in 2019 and the
thousands more killed and detained over so many years, in
contravention of their human rights.
Today let’s send a clear message: that Iran must stop suppressing
the voices of women and girls; that the appalling state-led
violence must end; that there must be justice for victims.
And that this Council stands firmly behind the girls, women,
mothers and daughters of Iran - supporting their call for Women.
Life. Freedom. Zan. Zendegi. Azadi.
Thank you."
