(MENAFN) On Monday, President Joe Biden marked the Persian New Year, known as Nowruz, at the White House, where he honored the Iranian women and girls who protested following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who died in custody after being arrested by Iran's morality police for allegedly violating the country's strict dress code. Biden used the occasion to pay tribute to these brave women and their fight for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
As part of the celebration, President Biden expressed his wish that the Nowruz holiday, which is a nearly 4,000-year-old tradition and is associated with the Zoroastrian religion, would bring hope to the women of Iran. He praised the courage of these women, who are inspiring the world with their conviction, and expressed his support for all the citizens of Iran who are fighting for their rights.
During the event, President Biden emphasized that the United States stands with the Iranian people, and he pledged to hold Iranian officials accountable for their attacks against their citizens. He added that the US, Europe, and the UK have already imposed fresh sanctions on dozens of Iranian officials and organizations, including the country's special military and police forces, in response to their violent crackdown on the protesters.
The protests that began in mid-September last year have been one of the most significant challenges to Iran's theocracy since the 1979 revolution. The demonstrations, which started after the death of Mahsa Amini, grew to include calls for broader political and social reforms in Iran. The protests were met with a violent response from the authorities, leading to the deaths of many protesters and the arrest of thousands more.
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