Death of Armita Geravand
![]() | The neutrality of this article is disputed. |
Death of Armita Geravand | |
---|---|
Born | 2 April 2006 ![]() Kermanshah ![]() |
Died | 28 October 2023 ![]() Tehran ![]() |
Parent(s) |
Armita Geravand[1] (Persian: آرمیتا گراوند) was an Iranian girl who fell into a coma on the Tehran Metro on 1 October 2023, when she was 17 years old.[2] She was held in the ICU of an Army hospital[3] where she was declared brain dead on 22 October 2023.[4] This incident has been compared to the death of Mahsa Amini and called "unbearable" by the German foreign minister.[2][3]
Background
In Iran, women are required by law to cover their hair and wear loose fitting clothes as part of strict Islamic dress codes.[5] Those who violate these rules face public rebuke, fines, or arrest by the Islamic religious police, also known as morality police.[6] In September 2022, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died in custody of the morality police after being arrested for allegedly not wearing her headscarf properly.[7] Amini's death sparked nationwide protests in Iran, which became known as the "Mahsa movement."[4] In response, the regime has cracked down on activism and tightened hijab laws.[7]
Development
On 1 October 2023, 17-year-old Armita Geravand was seen going into the Tehran Metro with two friends. She was later dragged out of a train, unconscious, and taken to a hospital.[2] According to the Norway-based human rights group Hengaw and to her two friends, Geravand was confronted by morality police officers for not wearing a headscarf and, after a brief altercation, she was assaulted and fell, causing her to hit her head and lose consciousness.[8][7] She was admitted into the hospital with "severe brain injuries".[9] Iranian authorities have denied any physical confrontation took place and claim she fainted due to low blood pressure.[3]
Security camera footage from the metro station shows Geravand entering the train without a headscarf along with two other girls. Moments later, she is carried off the train unconscious by her friends.[3] Iran's state media claims this footage proves their narrative, but does not show the events inside the train car leading up to Geravand's coma.[7]
Aftermath
The hospital where Geravand was taken to was surrounded by security forces, who have reportedly threatened her family and friends.[10][7] A journalist who tried to investigate Geravand's condition was briefly detained.[7] Iran's government has dismissed international criticism, calling it "interventionist."[11] Officials maintain Geravand simply fainted and suffered an accidental injury.[3]
On 22 October, Iran's state media announced Geravand was declared brain dead after being in a coma for several weeks.[4] The case has drawn international criticism and calls for an independent investigation into the cause of her condition.[6][7]
On 28 October, Geravand was declared dead.[12]
References
- ^ Wintour, Patrick; Parent, Deepa (2023-10-05). "Iran urged to release full CCTV of what led to teenage girl's coma". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ a b c Willinger, Katharina. "Mädchen im Iran im Koma: Ein neuer Fall Amini?". tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ a b c d e "An Iranian girl is hospitalized, fueling new outrage". NBC News. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ a b c "Iranian teenager Armita Geravand is 'brain dead': state media". Reuters. 2023-10-22. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
- ^ "With Iranian Girl in Coma, Suspicion Falls on Government". The New York Times. 2023-10-05. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ a b "An Iranian girl is hospitalized, fueling new outrage". NBC News. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ a b c d e f g Fassihi, Farnaz (2023-10-05). "With Iranian Girl in Coma, Suspicion Falls on Government". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ Salem, Mostafa; Rebane, Teele; Akbarzai, Sahar; Karadsheh, Jomana (2023-10-04). "Iranian activists accuse morality police of assault after teenage girl hospitalized". CNN. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ "Iran: Teen Armita Geravand 'brain dead' after hijab incident – DW – 10/22/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
- ^ "Rights group says mother of Armita Geravand arrested in Iran - X platform". Reuters. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ "واکنشهای بینالمللی به وضعیت آرمیتا گراوند در بیمارستان؛ ایران خواستار "عدم مداخله" شد". رادیو فردا (in Persian). 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
- ^ "Iranian teenager Armita Geravand dies after alleged confrontation -IRNA". Reuters. 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-10-28.