Shocking Tragedy: Iranian Teen Left Brain Dead After Horrific Assault by Morality Police
Iranian teen left in coma after alleged assault by morality police for not wearing headscarf; state media reports she is now brain dead Journalists imprisoned
State-aligned media reported that a teenage Iranian girl, Armita Geravand, is now "brain dead" after allegedly being assaulted by the country's morality police for failing to wear a headscarf. Geravand, who is 16 years old, was taken to the hospital with head injuries after the incident, which occurred at a Tehran metro station. Activists highlighted that this assault took place shortly after Iran implemented new legislation that imposes even stricter penalties on women who violate the country's already stringent hijab rules.
According to the state-aligned Tasnim news agency, the latest updates on Armita Geravand's health suggest that her state of being brain dead appears to be confirmed, despite the efforts of the medical staff. The news agency did not disclose the source of this information.
In October, the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights, based in Norway and focusing on Kurdish rights, reported that Geravand was "assaulted" by morality police and subsequently slipped into a coma. Additionally, IranWire, an opposition network, stated that Geravand was admitted to the hospital with "head trauma."
Hengaw staff member Awyer Shekhi informed CNN that Geravand was approached by female morality police officers near the Shohada metro station, who requested her to modify her hijab. As a consequence of this request, an altercation took place in which Geravand was physically assaulted by the morality police officers. She was forcibly pushed, causing her to collapse.
Iranian authorities have refuted the accusations, claiming that Geravand's hospitalization was a result of low blood pressure.
While Geravand's friends and family have expressed the same denials in interviews with state media, it is uncertain whether they were compelled to do so. Prior to this incident, UN officials and human rights organizations have accused Iranian authorities of coercing the families of deceased protesters into making statements in favor of the government's narrative.
Armita Geravand was hospitalized in October following an incident at a Tehran metro station.
CNN reported that Iran's parliament passed a bill in September known as the "hijab bill," which imposes penalties, including up to 10 years in prison, for violations related to clothing. This legislation was enacted in response to widespread protests that erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini.
Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, lost her life in September of the previous year due to her detainment by the notorious morality police of the government. Allegedly, her detention was a result of not conforming to the conservative dress code that is enforced in the country.
Reporters jailed
On Sunday, two journalists who were the first to report on the death of Amini were imprisoned by Iranian authorities.
According to the state-run Mizan news, Niloofar Hamedi, an employee of the reformist Shargh newspaper, received a prison sentence of 13 years. The charges against her included "cooperating with the hostile government of the United States" and "collusion to commit crimes against the country's security."
According to Mizan, Elaheh Mohammadi, who was employed by the reformist newspaper Ham-Mihan, received a 12-year prison sentence on analogous charges. Iranian intelligence had accused Hamedi of utilizing her position as a journalist to incite dissent.
Elahe Tavakolian is pictured in Milan, Italy, in August 2023.
Mark Esplin/CNN
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Hamedi's husband, Mohammad Hossein Ajorloo, expressed his disappointment that the verdict was revealed on her birthday.
"These verdicts are an unjust response to Niloofar and Elaheh's sincere and noble endeavors. We hope for their prompt release and for these sentences to be reversed," he shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Sherif Mansour, the program coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa at the Committee to Protect Journalists, denounced the convictions as a blatant disregard for freedom of speech and highlighted the Iranian government's relentless efforts to criminalize journalism. CNN's Sarah El Sirgany and Jomana Karadsheh provided additional reporting.
