U.S. Condemns Death Of Iranian Activist

Fifty-four-year-old Haleh Sahabi died after being struck by security forces, according to at least one eyewitness and opposition sources.

The U.S. State Department has condemned the death of an Iranian activist during her father's funeral, saying the death was the result of "reprehensible actions" by Iranian security forces.

State Department spokesman Mark Toner issued a statement declaring the death of 54-year-old activist Haleh Sahabi "a killing" and calling for an independent investigation.

Sahabi died on June 1 while attending the funeral of her father, who had been jailed by the regime on several occasions.

Opposition sources and an eyewitness who spoke to RFE/RL's Radio Farda claimed that Sahabi never got up after a scuffle with security officers who appeared to be trying to interfere in the ceremony.

Authorities later detained some of the mourners at the funeral, Farda reported.

Iran's government-run media reported that she suffered a heart attack.

Haleh had been imprisoned following Iran's presidential elections in 2009 for supporting allegations that the reelection of President Mahmud Ahmadinejad had been rigged.

She was temporarily released to attend the funeral of her father, himself a critic of the Iranian government.

compiled from agency reports