Iranian Security Forces Detain Mahsa Amini's Father on Anniversary of Her Death, Sparking Protests

On the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in Iranian custody, Iranian security forces detained her father, Amjad Amini, as he left his home in western Iran. Reports from Norwegian human rights group Hengaw state that he was arrested for a few hours and warned not to commemorate his daughter's death. This detention was seen as an attempt to prevent protestors from gathering at Mahsa's grave and igniting another round of demonstrations.

In response to the potential protests, security forces were seen patrolling the streets in Tehran and western Iran. Access to the Aichi cemetery, where Mahsa is buried, was blocked, and military helicopters hovered overhead, preventing the Amini family from holding a traditional religious ceremony at her grave. The family expressed their desire to hold the ceremony and had visited the grave the day before the anniversary.

The Kurdistan Human Rights Network reported that security forces told Amjad Amini that his family did not have the right to leave their home and participate in any commemorations of Mahsa's death. These restrictions imposed by the authorities led to a general strike in some Kurdish areas, with Hengaw posting photos and videos online showing empty streets and closed shops.

The tragic death of Mahsa Amini occurred after she was arrested by Iranian authorities for not wearing a hijab in accordance with Iranian law. Her death prompted nationwide protests that lasted for over a month, with some escalating into riots. Experts noted that these demonstrations posed a significant threat to the fundamentalist regime, and the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Hossein Salami, described them as the most serious and dangerous in the regime's history.

The protests were particularly notable for the active participation of women, many of whom openly defied the strict dress codes and burned their head coverings in public. The impact of these demonstrations was significant, as the Iranian regime claimed to shut down its "morality police" in response.

In a separate development, the United States announced new sanctions against Iran on the same day. These sanctions target 29 individuals and entities connected to the Iranian government's violent suppression of the protests following Mahsa Amini's death. Among those sanctioned are key members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iran's Law Enforcement Forces, as well as officials linked to Iran's internet blockade and state-backed media outlets.

U.S. Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Brian Nelson, stated that the United States, along with other international allies, will continue to take collective action against those who suppress Iranians' exercise of their human rights.

Britain also announced its own sanctions, specifically targeting senior Iranian decision-makers involved in enforcing Tehran's mandatory hijab law. These sanctions include Iran's minister for culture and Islamic guidance, his deputy, the mayor of Tehran, and an Iranian police spokesman.

Overall, the detention of Mahsa Amini's father and the imposition of sanctions highlight the ongoing tension in Iran surrounding human rights issues and the government's response to dissent.