Death of Armita Geravand
Death of Armita Geravand | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 April 2006  Kermanshah |
| Died | 28 October 2023 (aged 17) Tehran |
| Parent(s) |
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Armita Geravand[1] (Persian: آرمیتا گراوند) was a 17-year-old Iranian Kurdish girl [2]who fell into a coma on the Tehran Metro on 1 October 2023.[3] She was held in the ICU of an Army hospital[4] where she was declared brain dead on 22 October 2023.[5] This incident has been compared to the death of Kurdish Jina Mahsa Amini and called "unbearable" by the German foreign minister.[3][4]
Background
Armita was born in Kermanshah [6]. In Iran, women are required by law to cover their hair and wear loose fitting clothes as part of strict Islamic dress codes.[7] Those who violate these rules face public rebuke, fines, or arrest by the Islamic religious police, also known as morality police.[8]
Development
On 1 October 2023, 17-year-old Armita Geravand was seen going into the Tehran Metro with two friends. Her friends then dragged her out of the train, unconscious, called for medical help, and she was taken to a hospital.[3] According to the Norway-based human rights group Hengaw, 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.[9][10] Amini's death sparked a revolution the Kurdish cities and nationwide protests in Iran, which became known as Jina Revolution and the "Mahsa movement."[5] In response, the regime has cracked down on activism and tightened hijab laws.[10] She was admitted into the hospital with "severe brain injuries".[11] Iranian authorities have denied any physical confrontation took place and claim she fainted due to low blood pressure.[4]
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.[4] 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.[10] An analysis from Amnesty International's Evidence lab alleges that the video was sped up in multiple sections and that, based on time stamps, there is a gap of 3 minutes and 16 seconds in the footage.[12]
Aftermath
The hospital where Geravand was taken to was surrounded by security forces, who have reportedly threatened her family and friends.[13][10] A journalist who tried to investigate Geravand's condition was briefly detained.[10] Iran's government has dismissed international criticism, calling it "interventionist."[14] Officials maintain Geravand simply fainted and suffered an accidental injury.[4]
On 22 October, Iran's state media announced Geravand was declared brain dead after being in a coma for several weeks.[5] The case has drawn international criticism and calls for an independent investigation into the cause of her condition.[8][10]
On 28 October, Geravand was declared dead.[15]
References
- ^ Wintour, Patrick; Parent, Deepa (5 October 2023). "Iran urged to release full CCTV of what led to teenage girl's coma". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
- ^ "آرمیتا گراوند، دختری که نمیخواست قضاوت شود". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). 24 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ a b c Willinger, Katharina. "Mädchen im Iran im Koma: Ein neuer Fall Amini?" [Girl in a coma in Iran: A new Amini case?]. tagesschau.de (in German). Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e "An Iranian girl is hospitalized, fueling new outrage". NBC News. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ a b c "Iranian teenager Armita Geravand is 'brain dead': state media". Reuters. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
- ^ "آرمیتا گراوند، دختری که نمیخواست قضاوت شود". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). 24 October 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
- ^ "With Kurdish Iranian Girl in Coma, Suspicion Falls on Government". The New York Times. 5 October 2023. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ a b "An Iranian girl is hospitalized, fueling new outrage". NBC News. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ Salem, Mostafa; Rebane, Teele; Akbarzai, Sahar; Karadsheh, Jomana (4 October 2023). "Iranian activists accuse morality police of assault after teenage girl hospitalized". CNN. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Fassihi, Farnaz (5 October 2023). "With Iranian Girl in Coma, Suspicion Falls on Government". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ "Iran: Teen Armita Geravand 'brain dead' after hijab incident – DW – 10/22/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- ^ Armita Garawand: Independent investigation into schoolgirl’s critical injuries needed amid mounting evidence of a cover up in Iran October 6, 2023, amnesty.ca, accessed 29 October 2023
- ^ "Rights group says mother of Armita Geravand arrested in Iran - X platform". Reuters. 5 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ "واکنشهای بینالمللی به وضعیت آرمیتا گراوند در بیمارستان؛ ایران خواستار "عدم مداخله" شد" [international reactions to the situation of Armita Geravand in the hospital; Iran demanded "non-interference".]. رادیو فردا (in Persian). 5 October 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
- ^ "Iranian teenager Armita Geravand dies after alleged confrontation -IRNA". Reuters. 28 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.