Chile's President Boric condemns Mahsa Amini 'killing' during UN speech

Chile's President Boric condemns Mahsa Amini 'killing' during UN speech
In a speech at the UN General Assembly, Chile's President Gabriel Boric condemned the death in detention of Mahsa Amini by Iranian police, who detained her for allegedly not wearing a 'proper' hijab
2 min read
21 September, 2022
President Gabriel Boric paid tribute to Amini during his speech [Getty]

The president of Chile on Tuesday condemned the death of Mahsa Amini in Iranian morality police detention and called for an end to violence against women across the world.

He was speaking at the UN's General Assembly, where world leaders have gathered for a yearly summit.

Amini, 22, was on a visit with her family to the Iranian capital city of Tehran when she was detained last Tuesday by the police unit responsible for enforcing Iran's strict dress code for women, which includes the compulsory wearing of the headscarf in public.

In the detention centre, she was reportedly beaten to the point where she had symptoms resembling a concussion and was soon hospitalised, where her organs failed.

Iran's police have denied that she was assaulted but witnesses and medical expert statements contradict these claims.

Amini died on Friday afternoon. Her death caused outrage in Iran with protests erupting across the country.

Boric on Tuesday paid tribute to Amini during his speech at the annual summit of the UN General Assembly, urging an end to violence against women across the world.

He said the international community must "mobilise our efforts to stop violence against women whether it be in Iran, in memory of Mahsa Amini, who died at the hands of the police this week, or anywhere in the world".

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Rights groups reported that at least seven people have been killed by Iranian security forces in response to protests following Amini's death. The protests have been branded as some of Iran's worst unrest since street clashes last year over water shortages.

Boric also urged solidarity for Palestine, saying the international community must "not normalise the permanent violations of human rights against the Palestinian people".

He added that Palestinians have a right to be protected by international law.

Last week, Israel's foreign ministry summoned Chilean ambassador Jorge Carvajal for a "reprimand" after Boric postponed a meeting with Israel's ambassador to Santiago following the killing of a Palestinian teenager in the occupied West Bank.