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

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.

Thank you Comrade President @gabrielboric of #Chile for your valiant support for the women of #Iran and for standing up against the murder of #Mahsa_Amini.

The global Left should take heed and come to the full support of the new Iranian revolution

pic.twitter.com/xZ6M0onb5b

— Arash Azizi 🟣 آرش عزیزی (@arash_tehran) September 21, 2022

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".

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".

In his first speech before the UN, Chile President Gabriel Boric urged “not to normalize the permanent violations of human rights against the Palestinian people.” pic.twitter.com/4DvTPcecFN

— Palestine Culture (@PalestineCultu1) September 21, 2022

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.