United States Mission to the United Nations
Office of Press and Public Diplomacy
For Immediate Release
September 15, 2023
Statement by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on the Anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s Death
Mahsa “Zhina” Amini’s life was tragically cut short, but her bravery inspired a movement that endures in the face of unprecedented brutality by the Iranian regime.
In the months since her death, tens of thousands of ordinary Iranians – led by other courageous Iranian women – have joined together to protest with one simple message: “Woman, Life, Freedom.”
The United States announced today new sanctions against 29 Iranian individuals and entities involved in repression and violence against protesters, mistreatment of prisoners, and censorship.
These sanctions reaffirm our support for the Iranian people and the fundamental human rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. They also underscore our commitment to hold accountable Iranian officials who violate these fundamental freedoms and to defend the universal principles that are the foundation of the UN Charter and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
For example, we led the successful campaign to remove the stain of Iran’s membership on the United Nations Commission on the Status Women and supported the creation of an independent UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran.
As the Fact-Finding Mission reiterated just yesterday, Iran has yet to conduct a credible investigation of Mahsa’s death while in custody, as well as that of other protesters.
I’m also deeply troubled by the Fact-Finding Mission’s report of heightened repression and reprisals against protestors and their family members leading up to today’s solemn anniversary. I call on Iran to fully cooperate with the Fact-Finding Mission’s investigation and hold the perpetrators of abuses against Mahsa and peaceful protestors to account.
This year, we will again join Canada, France, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the European Union to support a UN resolution highlighting the deplorable human rights situation in Iran and calling for justice and accountability.
In taking these and other actions, we stand up for all the women and girls of Iran. We stand up for women, we stand up for life, and we stand up for freedom. And our commitment to stand with the women and people of Iran has not and will not waver.
