Thank you for contacting me about the protests in Iran.
Let me begin by expressing my deep sadness over the death of Mahsa Amini following her arrest for alleged dress code violations. Her death was a shocking reminder of the repression Iranian women and girls face. My thoughts are with the friends and family of Mahsa and all the other women and girls who have lost their lives at the hands of the Iranian security services since.
I can assure you, in no uncertain terms, that the UK stands firmly with the people of Iran who are bravely calling for an end to the sustained repression of the rights and voices of women and girls by the Iranian regime. The use of violence in response to the expression of fundamental rights, by women or any other members of Iranian society, is wholly unjustifiable.
HM Government (HMG) has called on Iran to respect the right to peaceful assembly and release unfairly detained protesters. The UK has also appealed to Iran, including by way of the United Nations (UN), to put an end to this appalling state-led violence and to carry out independent, transparent investigations.
The execution of protestors by the Iranian authorities was deplorable. The UK is firmly opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, as a matter of principle, and makes this clear to the Iranian regime on a regular basis.
The fact-finding mission established by the UN Human Rights Council and relating to the protests that began on 16 September is a welcome start, and the UK will work with partners to ensure it delivers for the Iranian people. Indeed, acting bilaterally and in coordination with the international community, the UK has been robust in its efforts to hold the Iranian regime to account.
So far, the UK's response has included: summoning the most senior Iranian official in the UK; announcing coordinated sanctions on Iranian officials leading the violent repression of protests, including sanctioning the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s so-called 'Morality Police' in its entirety; and issuing a joint statement with our European partners calling on Iran to stop the violence and listen to the concerns of its people. These actions send a clear message to the Iranian authorities that they will be held to account for their violation of human rights, the repression of women and girls, and the shocking violence they have inflicted on their own people.
Going forward, I can assure you that HMG will continue to raise human rights at all appropriate opportunities with the Iranian Government and take a stand with the international community against Iran’s tragic human rights record.
