Unexplained Injury to 16-Year-Old Iranian Girl Without a Hijab in Tehran Metro Ignites Public Outrage

An enigmatic incident involving a 16-year-old girl who was seen without a hijab on Tehran’s Metro has rekindled public fury, occurring shortly after the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death and the ensuing national protests.

The circumstances surrounding Armita Geravand’s injuries upon boarding the Metro train on Sunday are not yet clear. While a friend claimed on state-run television that she bumped her head on the platform, the video footage released by the media outlet is obstructed by a passerby. Seconds later, her motionless body is carried away.

Both of Geravand’s parents appeared on state media, attributing their daughter’s condition to either a fall, a blood pressure issue, or a combination of both.

International activists speculate that Geravand may have been either shoved or assaulted due to her lack of a hijab. They are calling for an independent inquiry by the United Nations’ Iran fact-finding mission, highlighting the Iranian government’s history of pressuring victims’ families and broadcasting coerced confessions on state television.

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This incident coincides with the Iranian government reinstating its morality police—who have been implicated in Amini’s death over her alleged improper hijab—and legislative attempts to impose stricter punishments for those defying the mandated head covering.

“Violence against girls on the streets is followed by an obligation for their families to defend the very government perpetuating that violence,” stated Hadi Ghaemi, Executive Director of the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran.

For devout Muslim women, the hijab is not only a religious symbol but also an embodiment of modesty. In Iran, the hijab and the all-encompassing black chador have become political symbols, especially since becoming compulsory after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Mahsa Amini died on September 16, 2022, after being detained by morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab correctly. Suspicions of abuse during her arrest triggered large-scale protests that posed the most significant challenge to Iran’s theocratic rule since the Islamic Revolution.

Even after those mass protests, there is a noticeable number of women in Tehran appearing in public without a hijab, flouting the law.

Geravand sustained her injuries at the Meydan-E Shohada Metro station in southern Tehran on Sunday morning. Speculations regarding the cause of her injuries quickly proliferated.

By Tuesday, the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights released a photograph allegedly showing Geravand in a hospital, her head swathed in bandages, in a comatose state. They allege she was assaulted by authorities at the Metro station for not wearing a hijab, resulting in her severe injuries and subsequent hospitalization.

Though it is yet to be confirmed, Hengaw has also claimed that Geravand’s mother, Shahin Ahmadi, was arrested by security forces. No acknowledgment of this arrest was immediately forthcoming from Tehran authorities, although semi-official news agencies have denied the claim.

Late on Wednesday, nearly all of the 16-minute surveillance footage of Geravand’s time in the Metro station prior to her injury was aired by state television. No video footage from inside the train has been released, leading to increased skepticism about the official account of events.

Emergency responders transported Geravand to Fajr Hospital, an air force medical facility near the station. A journalist covering the case was subsequently arrested, increasing concerns over freedom of the press in Iran.

The incident has already attracted international scrutiny, including comments from German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Iran Abram Paley, both expressing outrage and concern.

Given the escalating crackdown on hijab laws, including the hiring of “hijab guards” by Tehran’s city government, Iranian authorities are likely concerned about this incident provoking public unrest, akin to the large-scale protests following Amini’s death.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Armita Geravand

More about Armita Geravand

• Mahsa Amini Nationwide Protests: A background on the protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.
• Iran’s Hijab Laws: An overview of the mandatory hijab laws in Iran.
• Role of Iran’s Morality Police: Explanation of the function and role of Iran’s morality police in society.
• United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on Iran: Information about the UN’s initiatives to investigate human rights issues in Iran.
• Statement by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock: German Foreign Minister’s public response to the incident.
• Statement by U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Iran Abram Paley: U.S. Deputy Special Envoy for Iran’s public statement concerning the incident.
• Tehran Metro Surveillance Footage: State media’s release of the surveillance footage involving Armita Geravand.
• Hengaw Organization for Human Rights: Source for claims about the alleged assault on Armita Geravand.
• Committee to Protect Journalists: Information on the arrest of a journalist who was reporting on the case.