The United States Thursday condemned in the "strongest possible terms" the death of a human rights activist in Iran and the Iranian regime's actions that led to her death, DPA reported.
Department of State deputy spokesman Mark Toner said that "eyewitness and reliable accounts" had made it clear that Haleh Sahabi died as a result of "reprehensible actions taken by Iranian security forces."
Initial reports said Sahabi had died of a stroke during a scuffle with Iranian security forces. She had been released from prison to attend the funeral service of her father, Ezatollah Sahabi, a political dissident who had also served time in jail.
On Wednesday, the US called on Iran to investigate the death after security forces intervened at the funeral of her father, but stopped short of condemning the government.
"It is unfathomable that a government would be so terrified of its citizens that it would order the use of force against a daughter mourning at her father's funeral," Toner said.
Toner also cited reports that members of Women for Peace and Mourning Mothers had been beaten Thursday when they tried to hold a commemoration of Sahabi's death.
The US is calling for the special rapporteur for Iran at the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the incident, Toner said.