Stop Iran repression or Italy will change stance - Meloni

(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 29 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Thursday warned Iran to stop its repression of a wave of protests that started when a young Kurdish woman was killed by hijab police, saying that if it didn't then else Italy's position would change.
    What is happening in Iran "for us is unacceptable and we will not tolerate it any longer, we have always had a dialogue approach but, if these repressions" in Iran "should not cease and there is no turning back, Italy's attitude will have to change," the premier said at her year end press conference.
    She said the possible change would have to be the subject of international consultations.
    Foreign Minister and Deputy Premier Antonio Tajani on Wednesday told Iran's new ambassador to Italy that death sentences against protesters involved in demonstrations sparked by the the mid-September death in hijab patrol custody of 22-year-old Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini must stop, amid reports of police atrocities against women and girls as well as a growing count of executions.
    One of the latest deaths was that of a 14-year-old girl called Masoomeh with severe vaginal injuries, while a 12-year-old girl was repeatedly raped and killed for removing her hijab in school just before Christmas.
    Another recent victim of the Iranian authorities was a 17-year-old boy.
    Meanwhile, the Iranian regime has stepped up executions of protesters.
    On Tuesday a picture of a 25-year-old chess champion not wearing a hijab, Sara Khadim al-Sharia, went viral just as Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi launched the umpteenth anathema against protesters saying "we will have no pity".
    Meloni has on several occasions stated that the bloody and brutal crackdown on dissent in the Asian country is unacceptable. (ANSA).