Mahsa Amini: Woman, 22, DIES after Iran’s morality police brutally beat her up over strict hijab code
Update: Mahsa Amini has died after her violent arrest and detention by the police. Amini, 22, went into a coma and died while she was in police custody in hospital.
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TEHRAN, IRAN: A woman was hospitalized and is now battling for her life after her arrest by ‘morality police’ in the Iranian city of Tehran. The police that represent the Islamic Republic of Iran took Mahsa Amini, 22, in custody with other women for "explanation and instruction" about the dress rules. In the country, the special police unit enforces a strict dress code for women, which includes a compulsory hijab (headscarf).
According to a report by the Daily Mail, the women's brother Kiaresh said that as they were waiting outside the police station for Mahsa and others to be released, an ambulance carrying her rushed to the hospital. He later told the Iran Wire news website that she had suffered a heart attack and a brain seizure and was now in a coma.
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According to a report by Iran International, Mahsa was not feeling good and had concussion-like symptoms when she was taken to a detention center for a "briefing class", where those arrested by the morality police in Tehran are usually taken.
The victim's brother revealed, "There were only two hours between her arrest and being taken to hospital.” "I have nothing to lose. I will not let this end without making a noise," he said as he vowed to file a criminal complaint against the authorities.
On the incident, Tehran police made an official statement, "She suddenly suffered a heart problem while in the company of other guided people (and)... was immediately taken to the hospital with the cooperation of police and emergency services."
There is no clarity on what went on between her arrest and departure from the hospital. The 1500tasvir social media channel, known for keeping a close watch on all human rights violations by the Iranian police, posted a horrifying picture of Mahsa Amini, with a tube in her mouth while she is battling for her life in a coma.
Iranian-British actress and campaigner Nazanin Boniadi has hit out on Twitter reacting to the news, “Sickening, How many innocent young lives must be brutally robbed before we all rise?"
Hossein Ronaghi, the Iranian freedom of expression campaigner, wrote on social media, "Mahsa Amini's situation is an example of an intentional crime." "The systematic suppression of Iranian women under the pretext of enforcing the hijab by the guidance patrol and the police force is a crime,” she added.
There’s a growing controversy in recent times over the conduct of the gasht-e-ershad (guidance patrol) which keeps a tab and enforces the dress code in Iran.