Borrell says Iran protest crackdown 鈥榰njustifiable, unacceptable鈥�

People light a fire during a protest over the death of Mahsa Amini, a woman who died after being arrested by the Islamic republic's "morality police", in Tehran, Iran September 21, 2022. (File/Reuters)
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  • A wave of protests has rocked Iran since the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran鈥檚 morality police

BRUSSELS: The EU鈥檚 foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Sunday that Iran鈥檚 crackdown on protests is 鈥渦njustifiable鈥� and 鈥渦nacceptable,鈥� as Tehran vowed no leniency against the unrest gripping the country.
A wave of protests has rocked Iran since the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran鈥檚 morality police.
At least 41 people have died, mostly protesters but including members of the Islamic republic鈥檚 security forces, according to an official toll, although human rights groups say the real figure is higher.

In a statement on behalf of the EU, Borrell said: 鈥淔or the European Union and its member states, the widespread and disproportionate use of force against nonviolent protesters is unjustifiable and unacceptable.鈥�
Moves 鈥渢o severely restrict Internet access by the relevant Iranian authorities and to block instant messaging platforms is a further cause for concern, as it blatantly violates freedom of expression,鈥� he added.
Amini was arrested on September 13, accused of having breached rules that mandate tightly fitted hijab head coverings as well as ripped jeans and brightly colored clothes.
Iran鈥檚 judiciary chief on Sunday 鈥渆mphasised the need for decisive action without leniency.鈥�