Iranian Teenager in Coma After Hijab Confrontation: Western Outrage, Iranian Denial

An Iranian teenage girl is currently in a coma after a confrontation with security agents in the Tehran metro for not wearing a hijab, according to an Iranian rights group. The incident has drawn condemnation from Western governments, who express concerns over women's rights in Iran. The mother of 16-year-old Armita Geravand, Shahin Ahmadi, has been arrested near the hospital where her daughter is being treated, as reported by the Iranian-Kurdish rights group Hengaw.

However, Iranian authorities deny the arrest and dispute claims that Geravand was injured during the confrontation. The altercation, which allegedly occurred on October 1st, has ignited anger on social media among Iranians demanding full video footage to reveal the truth of the incident. CCTV footage released by state media IRNA was inconclusive, making it difficult to verify the authenticity of the claims. Rights groups fear that Geravand may suffer the same fate as Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died while in the custody of morality police in September 2022.

Amini's death sparked nationwide anti-government protests and a subsequent crackdown by authorities. President Ebrahim Raisi has taken a tough stance on enforcing the new hijab law, which came into effect recently. The law imposes stricter punishments on women who do not adhere to the dress code, requiring them to wear a head covering. The United Nations-appointed rights officials have expressed concern over the law. Western governments, including the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom, have condemned the incident.

US deputy special envoy for Iran, Abram Paley, expressed shock and concern about the assault on Geravand by Iran's morality police and pledged continued support for the people of Iran. Similarly, Germany's Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, criticized the Iranian government for its treatment of women. In response, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, criticized the US, UK, and Germany for their interventionist remarks, stating that they should focus on their own healthcare issues instead of expressing insincere concern for Iranian women and girls.

Iran's theocratic government has imposed strict dress restrictions on women since the 1979 revolution. Violators have faced public rebuke, fines, or arrest. Despite these restrictions, there were still reports of women appearing unveiled in public places before the recent incident. As the investigation into the confrontation and Geravand's condition continues, calls for transparency and justice for women's rights in Iran grow louder both domestically and internationally.