The Diplomat
The Spanish government yesterday expressed its “firm condemnation” of “the violence exercised against peaceful demonstrators” in different parts of the Islamic Republic of Iran, eight days after protests began following the death of young Mahsa Amini while in custody for wearing the wrong headscarf.
In a statement issued at 11 p.m. by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Spain also demands that the Iranian authorities carry out an independent investigation to determine responsibility.
The government also demands that the right of its citizens to express themselves and demonstrate freely and peacefully be fully guaranteed.
After the demonstrations and the police action, more than 75 people are said to have died, according to human rights organisations, although the Iranian authorities put the number of deaths below 50.
Until now, the Spanish government, and specifically the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had limited itself to adhering last Monday, via social networks, to the joint condemnation statement issued on Sunday by the European Union in which it demanded that the theocratic regime “cease the disproportionate use of force against the demonstrations in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini” and demanded that his death be clarified and that those responsible be held accountable for it.
On Monday, at a Europa Press Breakfast, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, referred to this condemnation and insisted on the terms expressed.
In the communiqué issued last night, the government reiterated its “firm commitment” to the defence of human rights, and in particular those of women, “which must be respected in all circumstances and in accordance with universally valid international instruments”.
In this regard, it condemns the violence against Iranian women and their rights after the Iranian authorities have responded with violent repression to the demonstrations that have taken place in recent days in protest against the “violence against women and their rights”.
The government also expresses its condolences for the loss of life and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured in the demonstrations following Amini’s death.
It also calls on the Iranian authorities to carry out an independent investigation and to establish responsibility in a “transparent, objective and complete” manner.
It also calls on them to “immediately” lift all restrictions on communications. Finally, it calls for an end to arbitrary arrests and “any other measure or restriction against peaceful demonstrators, journalists and other citizens exercising their civic freedoms”.
