Published on 

Statement from Minister Coveney on Iran

I join many of my EU colleagues in condemning the disproportionate and unjustifiable response of the Iranian internal security apparatus to peaceful protests against the death in custody of Mahsa Amini.  I also urge the Iranian authorities to conduct a full and transparent enquiry into Ms. Amini’s death.

Ireland puts gender issues and the empowerment of women and girls at the forefront of our foreign policy and we will continue to champion these issues in our dialogue with international partners and during our tenure on the UN Security Council. Iran has signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and adopted the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action which, inter alia, commits Iran to the ensure the full implementation of the human rights of women and of the girl child as an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.

I also remind the Iranian Government that Iran is a party to the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, which enshrines the fundamental rights of freedom of assembly and speech. The disproportionate use of force against peaceful protests and the decision to severely restrict access to the internet is a breach of those fundamental rights.

ENDS