16-Year-Old Iranian Schoolgirl Declared Brain Dead After Brutal Assault Sparks Outrage and Reignites Protests
The tragic case of Armita Geravand, an Iranian schoolgirl declared brain dead after allegedly being assaulted for not wearing a hijab, has sparked outrage and threatens to reignite protests in Iran. Concerns about press freedom have also arisen, with two journalists facing prison sentences for covering a similar incident. This incident underscores the pressing need for a closer look at human rights in Iran.
Armita Geravand, a 16-year-old Iranian schoolgirl, has tragically been declared brain dead after allegedly being severely physically assaulted by female officers for not wearing a hijab on the Tehran metro. This incident has sparked outrage and threatens to reignite countrywide protests, reminiscent of the public outcry following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman, while in the custody of the morality police last year. According to Iranian state media reports, Armita Geravand's health condition has been deemed brain dead despite the efforts of medical staff.
Iranian regime newsagency Tasnim confirms that 16 years old schoolgirl #ArmitaGeravand is braindead despite "medical attempts". She was assaulted by regime agents on a Metro in Tehran Iran a month ago over not wearing hijab. Not wearing hijab is criminalized by islamist regime pic.twitter.com/EFJtTAg8hQ
— mina bai (@bai_mina) October 22, 2023
Iranian authorities have consistently denied claims by rights groups that she was harmed during the confrontation that took place on October 1st. Officers were supposedly enforcing the mandatory Islamic dress code when the incident occurred. This case has further raised concerns about the freedom of press in Iran. Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, two journalists covering Mahsa Amini's death, have been sentenced to substantial prison terms. The charges against them include collaboration with the US government and acting against national security. Both journalists have vehemently denied these charges.
Hamedi was detained after capturing a photograph of Amini's parents embracing each other in a Tehran hospital, while Mohammadi was arrested after covering Amini's funeral in her hometown of Saqez, where the initial protests began. The verdicts issued against Hamedi and Mohammadi are subject to appeal, according to Iran's state news agency, IRNA. If confirmed, the time already spent by the women in Evin prison, known for housing political prisoners, would be deducted from their sentences. Many are dismayed by these recent developments, raising concerns about the treatment of Iranian citizens by the morality police and the suppression of journalists. The tragic fate of Armita Geravand underscores the urgency for a closer examination of human rights issues within Iran.