Ayatollah Khamenei. Image Credit: Tasnim News, CC BY 4.0.
The Biden administration on Monday declared that it had seen no signs that the treatment of women in Iran was improving, despite reports that Tehran was scrapping its infamous morality police following recent protests.
Iran’s ongoing civil unrest follows the death of Mahsa Amini, 22, who had been detained by the morality police, which enforced Iran’s strict codes on women’s dress.
Iran’s prosecutor general Mohammad Jafar Montazeri was quoted by local media saying the ‘morality police’ units had been scrapped, despite campaigners voicing doubt that meaningful change was forthcoming, claims which have not yet been confirmed.
When asked about the remarks, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken saluted the “incredibly courageous” protesters and noted that reports on the morality police were unclear.
“I don’t know where exactly this is going to go but the main thing is this is about the aspirations of the Iranian people,” Blinken told reporters.
In early November, Vice President Kamala Harris declared the US would work with other nations to oust Iran from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
Next week, 54-membered UN Economic and Social Council is expected to vote on whether to expel the Islamic republic from the commission.