UN detains Israeli envoy for raising poster of Mahsa Amini during Ebrahim Raisi's speech

As the leaders from around the world voiced their opinions at the United Nations General Assembly, UN security personnel on Tuesday detained Israel’s ambassador to the international body shortly after he left the General Assembly Hall. According to The New York Post, the diplomat named Gilad Erdan was arrested after he left the building to protest against the speech made by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. However, Erdan was not detained for long and the United Nations told local reporters that the Israeli official was “merely speaking to security personnel” present at the location. 

“There was indeed an incident when the permanent representative of Israel walked down the aisle and unfurled a photo during the speech by the president of Iran in the general assembly,” a spokesperson told The Independent on Tuesday following Erdan’s detention. “UN security spoke to him. At no time was the ambassador detained in any way, shape or form. As far as we are concerned, the incident is closed,” the spokesperson added. However, the video of the Isralie envoy started circulating on social media sparking major controversies. 

During Raisi's keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Erdan held up a placard that featured an image of Mahsa Amini. The Iranian woman died last year after being arrested by Iran’s infamous morality police, which eventually sparked nationwide protest across the country that continues to simmer. “Iranian women deserve freedom now!” was the caption which was featured in the Israeli PM’s placard. 

🇮🇷🇺🇳🇮🇱The moment when security forces kicked the ambassador of Israel out of the UN General Assembly hall. pic.twitter.com/VxR1BxsZW9

— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) September 19, 2023

While the UN rolls out the red carpet for the Butcher of Tehran, Israel's Ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, left the UNGA during Iran's president Raisi speech, while holding the picture of Masha Amin. pic.twitter.com/qaFLXRiTaE

— Yasmina (@yasminalombaert) September 19, 2023

‘A moral stain,’ Erdan takes his outrage to social media

Calling Raisi a ‘moral stain’ for the United Nations, Erdan termed the Iranian President as the “Butcher of Tehran”. “When President Raisi of Iran, the “Butcher of Tehran,” began his speech, I waved a picture of Mahsa Amini, the innocent Iranian woman who was brutally murdered by the regime one year ago for not wearing a hijab ‘properly’,” the Israeli official wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, sharing the video of his protest. “Meanwhile, outside the UN hundreds of Iranians were protesting, begging for help from the international community. I will never stop fighting for the truth and I will always expose the UN’s moral distortions,” he added. Erdan went on to insist that those who are “rolling out red carpets of murderers and antisemites” should be held accountable at the world stage. 

New moral stain for the UN ‼️

When President Raisi of Iran, the “Butcher of Tehran,” began his speech, I waved a picture of Mahsa Amini, the innocent Iranian woman who was brutally murdered by the regime one year ago for not wearing a hijab “properly.”

Meanwhile, outside the UN… pic.twitter.com/ZVq80Zpt9N

— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) September 19, 2023