THE British government has slapped sanctions on Iran’s morality police in response to the violent suppression of protests since the death of Mahsa Amini in custody. 

The 22-year-old died last month after she was stopped in the street and detained by the morality police, who claimed her hijab was too loose. 

Her death has sparked nationwide protests demanding an end to morality police patrols and the country’s mandatory hijab law. 

Protesters have been met with brutal attacks from security forces, with many dozens killed across the country, including at least 66 people in one day, according to Amnesty International. 

In response, Britain has sanctioned the country’s morality police “in its entirety,” as well as both its chief Mohammed Rostami Cheshmeh Gachi and the head of the Tehran division Haj Ahmed Mirzaei.

The sanctions, announced on Monday by the Foreign Office, are intended to ensure the individuals listed cannot travel to Britain, and that any of their assets held in Britain, or by British persons anywhere, will be frozen.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “These sanctions send a clear message to the Iranian authorities — we will hold you to account for your repression of women and girls, and for the shocking violence you have inflicted on your own people.”

Separately, sanctions were also imposed on five officials for their role in suppressing 2019 protests.

The government also said there had been reports of live ammunition used against protesters and that bodies of demonstrators had been buried by security forces without the families’ knowledge. 

Two 16-year-old girls, Sarina Esmailzadeh and Nasreen Shakarami, are among those reported to have been killed by security forces during protests in recent weeks.