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US must be prosecuted at intl. courts for human rights abuses: Iran’s Judiciary chief

Tuesday, 02 June 2020 10:23 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 02 June 2020 10:42 AM ]

Seattle Police stand guard after dispersing a protest outside a precinct against the death of George Floyd in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington on June 1, 2020. (Photo by AFP)

Amid a global outcry over the brutal death of a black man at the hands of US police, Iran’s Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raeisi says the United States must face prosecution at international courts for “systematic racism” and violations of basic human rights.

In remarks on Tuesday, Raeisi slammed the shocking US police brutality that led to the death of George Floyd earlier this month, saying the tragedy “laid bare America unmasked.”

The 46-year-old unarmed black man lost his life in police custody on a Minnesota street after a white officer kneeled on his neck for nearly 9 minutes.

Arrogant US used to lecturing others: Iran's Mousavi

Iran says the US has developed an overly strong habit of lecturing other countries despite its own well-documented abuse record.

Raeisi further said the US, which claims to be a defender of human rights “should in fact be prosecuted at international courts” as a violator of basic human rights and for racial discrimination.

“It’s not just about the color of skin; it’s about systematic racism in the US,” said Raeisi.

US police brutality against blacks knows no boundaries: Iran Foreign Ministry

Iran

He also criticized the so-called human rights advocates for keeping silent on Washington’s abuses of even the most basic human rights, calling on the international community to take action against such arrogant policies.

The latest instance of US police violence has triggered angry protests both inside the US and abroad.

Protests against US police killing of George Floyd go global

Protesters across the world stage rallies in solidarity with tens of thousands of Americans against police brutality and racial profiling, following the killing of unarmed African-American George Floyd last week.

The rallies in American cities have been met with an iron fist, with police firing teargas canisters and rubber bullets to break up the gatherings.

Minnesota, where the murder took place, has even activated the National Guard against the protesters in a rare move.

Shootings and killings of unarmed black people at the hands of white police officers have on several occasions prompted mass protests across the country in recent years.

Such police conduct led to the formation in 2013 of the Black Lives Matter movement, which campaigns against violence and systemic racism towards black people.

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