EU calls on Iran to end systemic discrimination against women on anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death

BRUSSELS, Sep 16 (EUROPEA PRESS) –

The European Union on Monday reiterated its call for Iran to formally and practically eliminate systemic discrimination against all women and girls in public and private life, on the second anniversary of the death of young Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini.

The young woman died in 2022 ‘after being arrested by the Morality Police’ for allegedly wearing her veil incorrectly. Her case sparked unprecedented protests inside Iran and generated widespread denunciations from the international community, leading to her being awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament in 2023.

In a statement on behalf of the 27, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrell stressed that the bloc “honours the memory and that of the ‘Women, Life, Freedom’ movement, driven by the courage and determination of countless Iranians, especially women.”

“Two years ago, Iranians took to the streets to demand respect for fundamental freedoms. Given the dire human rights situation in Iran, especially the repression of women’s rights, these voices calling for dignity and equality must continue to be heard and respected,” she reiterated.

The EU urges Iran to dismantle “in law and in practice” systemic discrimination against all women and girls in the private and public spheres and to “adopt gender-sensitive measures to prevent and ensure the protection of women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence.”