John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Iranian protests following the death of Mahsa Amini are now in their sixth week.

Support for the country's women is growing but so is the regime's brutality against its own citizens. Mahsa was arrested in Tehran by Iran's so-called morality police and taken to a re-education centre for lessons in modesty, where she later died. Earlier this month, Iran's revolutionary guard went into a girls' secondary school and forced the children to sing a pro-regime song. The girls refused and were beaten. Seven were arrested, ten hospitalised and 16 year-old Asra Panahi died. The country's military and police continue violently to raid homes, workplaces and education settings. Protesters are beaten and killed and jails are now overflowing with increasing numbers under house arrest.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs summoned the Iranian ambassador last week to raise the case of Mahsa Amini's death and the disproportionate response of the country's security forces to the protesters. What were the outcomes of this meeting? Did the ambassador confirm that Iranian climber Elnaz Rekabi is currently under house arrest? What engagement have the Taoiseach and Minister had with their European counterparts? What further actions will Government and the EU take if the additional targeted sanctions against Iranian individuals do not deliver the intended results?

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