Gardaí investigating after Iran's embassy in Dublin daubed with graffiti 

The graffiti and clean-up operation at the Iranian Embassy on Merrion Road, Dublin. Picture: Sarah Slater

Gardaí are treating as criminal damage the defacing of the Iranian Embassy entrance which was covered with graffiti overnight. 

Ongoing unrest and demonstrations in Iran were sparked following the death of the Kurdish-Iranian 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on September 16 in police custody in Tehran.

Ms Aminni was detained by Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi’s special branch of the country’s morality police, for allegedly violating the law requiring women to cover their hair as her headscarf was being loosely worn. She died three days later in custody.

The large white entrance pillars into the Iranian Embassy, located on Merrion Road, Dublin were defaced with graffiti.

The walls were covered with the imprints of red hands along with words including dictator and witches.

Security personnel and officials could be seen this morning at 9.30 cleaning off and painting over the graffiti strewn walls. The graffiti has now been removed.

The walls at the Iranian Embassy on Merrion Road, Dublin, were covered with the imprints of red hands along with words including 'dictator' and 'witches'. Picture: Sarah Slater

Gardaí have said they are aware of the incident and in a statement said: “Gardaí are investigating an incident of criminal damage at a property in the Mount Merrion area of Dublin.” 

State officials claim the young woman died from suffering a heart attack however her family have said the 22-year-old died after being beaten by police.

Ms Amini’s death has become the catalyst for many Iranians who have been testing the limits of Sharia law for years.

Protests have erupted in more than 80 cities across Iran since Ms Amini’s death and sporadic outbursts continue with women burning hijabs, cutting their hair, daubing their faces with the imprint of a red hand and burning State buildings.

Amnesty International has said that at least 52 people have been killed since the start of the protests, noting that the death toll is likely much higher.

Embassy officials and Iranian Ambassador to Ireland Masoud Eslami were contacted for comment. No organisation or person has taken responsibility for the criminal damage