Beverly Hills City Council Denounces Mahsa Amini's Death In Iran

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Beverly Hills City Hall will be illuminated with the words, "Justice for Mahsa Amini" starting Thursday after the council denounced her "horrific murder."

Amini was a 22-year-old woman, who died in custody on Sept. 16 after being detained by Iranian morality police three days earlier in Tehran for failing to follow the country's dress code with an improper head covering, according to experts with the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Authorities said Amini had a stroke in custody and fell into a coma before she died, according to Al Jazeera. But Amini's family and human rights organizations like Amnesty International contend Amini was tortured in custody, leading to her death, Al Jazeera reported.

Her death prompted sustained protests in Iran and across the globe.

Beverly Hills City Council on Sept. 20 condemned Amini's arrest and in-custody death. The Council opened their regular meeting with a moment of silence.

"As a city that stands for the rights of all people, we condemn this horrific, horrific murder and call for those responsible to be brought to justice," Mayor Lili Bosse said.

Beverly Hills City Hall will be lit up to honor Amini from Thursday to Sunday.

Council member Sharona Nazarian read a letter she received from a young woman in Iran, pleading for help as Iranian women are punished for their protests. Women have been removing their hijabs and cutting their hair in protest.

The government has responded with a heavy police response to the protests and stifled internet access, Al Jazeera reported. The United Nations Human Rights Council on Thursday denounced state "violence directed against peaceful protesters."

"We cannot walk easily in our streets. ... When we leave our house, we have to hug our parents for the last time because we don't know if we will return home alive or dead," Nazarian said, reading the letter.

"To me this is not a religious or cultural matter, but a human rights issue. As a mother, as a woman, this is appalling to me," Nazarian said. "Knowledge is power, and the more people understand what is happening, the more we can unite and bring aid, bring a voice to those that don't have one."