The Media Line: US Honors Mahsa Amini on Third Anniversary of Execution in Iran 

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US Honors Mahsa Amini on Third Anniversary of Execution in Iran  

By The Media Line Staff 

The United States on Monday marked the third anniversary of the death of Mahsa Zhina Amini, the young Iranian-Kurdish woman whose treatment at the hands of Iran’s morality police in 2022 ignited the largest wave of anti-government protests in the Islamic Republic’s history.  

Amini, 22, was detained in Tehran for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. Images of her lying unconscious in a hospital bed and news of her death sparked nationwide anger that grew into the “Women, Life, Freedom” movement.  

Tommy Pigott, the Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, issued a statement commemorating Amini’s death, saying: “The United States stands with the people of Iran in their calls for dignity and a better life. We will continue to apply maximum pressure on the Islamic Republic, ensuring it is held accountable for actions against its people and against its neighbors.” He added, “Mahsa’s name will never be forgotten.”  

According to rights groups, more than 500 people were killed and over 22,000 detained during the 2022–2023 demonstrations, which spread to all 30 provinces and involved more than 150 cities, towns, and villages. Since then, Iran has continued to face thousands of protest actions, while authorities have responded with mass arrests and a surge in executions.  

The hijab law, a central issue in the demonstrations, remains a flashpoint. In 2023, parliament advanced legislation expanding enforcement methods and punishments, though full implementation has reportedly been stalled out of concern over social backlash. Still, the government has increased surveillance, using facial recognition, artificial intelligence, and even crowd-sourced reporting through a mobile app known as Nazer (“Overseer”). UN investigators have urged Tehran to repeal the law entirely.