By RohitNew Delhi [India]October 5 (ANI): European lawmaker Abir Al Sahlani, who cut off her hair in solidarity with the ongoing protests in Iran, said she wanted to show the women of Iran that they have been heard and have a voice in the European Parliament .
The death of 22-year-old girl Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s “morality police” last month has sparked large-scale protests in the country where thousands have joined anti-government demonstrations.
Security forces have at times responded with live ammunition, and many people have been killed, injured and detained in the protests, according to media reports.
In a stirring speech delivered during the EU debate in Strasbourg, EU lawmaker Al Sahlani extended his support to protesting people, saying: “The hands of the mullahs’ regimes in Iran are stained with blood. Neither history nor Allah nor God Almighty will it. forgive you for crimes against humanity that you commit against your own people.” “Until the women of Iran are free, we will stand with you,” she said in a video that went viral on Twitter.
Responding to a media query, Al Sahlani exclusively told ANI that she wanted to show that women’s rights are equally important across the world, not just in the EU. “I wanted to show the women of Iran that they have been heard and that they have a voice in the European Parliament. I wanted to make a physical manifestation (by cutting my hair), not just a speech, to underline the anger I feel,” said she.
The Iraqi-born Swedish member of the European Parliament said the women in Iran have put their lives in danger for three weeks and shown incredible courage to fight for their freedom.
She said EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell is a “spineless coward” who has refused to support the protesters in Iran. “The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, has shown anything but the same courage. He has cowardly refused to support the protesters in Iran. It has made me so frustrated that he is such a spineless coward.” said she wants to “show that we can act, and not just say things.” “Sweden and the EU can be much clearer in our support for the protesters in Iran. They want international support to maintain their energy and feel that they are not alone in this fight,” she added.
More than 100 people have been killed in nationwide protests over the death of Mahsa Amini, according to the Norway-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR) NGO. Iranian schoolgirls and women have come out in large numbers to demonstrate by removing their hijabs and staging demonstrations against Amini’s death.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei broke his silence on the protest and on Monday blamed the US for the ongoing protest in the country, following the death of Mahsa Amini.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony in Tehran, Khamenei said he was heartbroken over the death of the 22-year-old girl in police custody. However, he did not approve of the violent demonstrations following Amini’s death. (ANI)
Source: sn.dk