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Iran summons UK ambassador over ‘provocative’ comments

October 5, 2022 at 10:01 am

Britain’s Ambassador Simon Shercliff presents his credentials to Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi [@SimonShercliff/Twitter]

Iran summoned Britain’s Ambassador to Tehran Simon Shercliff on Wednesday to protest against the British government’s comments regarding the unrest that started after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody last month.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said that Britain is “interfering in Iran’s internal affairs by issuing meddlesome and provocative comments.” It accused the UK of “siding with terrorist organisations against the Iranian government.”

According to the ministry’s statement, Tehran will “consider possible responses to the actions of the United Kingdom.”

Mahsa Amini died on 16 September in mysterious circumstances after being detained and taken to the headquarters of the “morality police” in Tehran. The authorities maintain that she died of cardiac arrest, but her family claims that she was beaten in police custody.

This has fuelled angry protests across Iran in recent days and has been condemned by countries around the world, including Britain. Many countries in the West are demanding an independent investigation.

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Fury grows in Iran over woman who died after hijab arrest - Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]

Fury grows in Iran over woman who died after hijab arrest – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]