A 16-year-old Iranian girl named Armita Geravand is in critical condition following an alleged altercation regarding her hijab, according to reports from activists.
The girl is currently in a hospital, in precarious condition, as she slipped into a coma after a purported encounter with authorities in Tehran’s metro for breaching hijab regulations.
This case has prompted fears that Geravand may meet a similar fate to Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who tragically passed away while in a coma in the custody of morality police last year, igniting months of nationwide protests.
Authorities have refuted claims from human rights organisations, contending that Geravand fell into a coma on Sunday due to an altercation with officers enforcing the Islamic dress code.
Nonetheless, the Iranian-Kurdish rights group Hengaw published a photograph of her unconscious state in a Tehran hospital, where she was admitted following the incident. The Iranian interior ministry has not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the incident.
“We are closely monitoring her case. She remains in a coma in the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital, and her condition is critical… her relatives have noted a significant presence of plainclothes individuals at the hospital,” disclosed one of the activists based in Iran.
The second activist reported that security forces have prohibited Geravand’s parents from sharing her photo on social media or engaging with human rights organisations. Both activists chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity surrounding the matter.
