Western governments expressed deep concern on Wednesday following an alleged assault by Iranian security forces that reportedly left a teenage girl in a comatose state. Germany’s top diplomat, Annalena Baerbock, denounced the incident as “intolerable.”
A human rights organization has also called for a thorough international investigation into the confrontation that occurred on the Tehran metro, just over a year after the tragic death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly violating stringent dress codes for women.
The victim in this recent incident, Armita Garawand, aged 16, was reportedly assaulted by female police officers, as reported by the Kurdish-focused rights group Hengaw.
However, Iranian authorities have taken a different stance, claiming that she merely “fainted” due to low blood pressure, vehemently denying any involvement of security forces.
This incident comes during a period when Iranian authorities remain on high alert, wary of any increase in social tensions, especially around and after the anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death on September 16. Amini’s tragic demise had sparked months of unrest, which saw Iran’s clerical leadership facing significant challenges, ultimately resulting in a severe crackdown with numerous activists arrested and hundreds reportedly killed.
“Once again, a young woman in Iran is fighting for her life, simply because she revealed her hair on the subway,” expressed German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
Abram Paley, the acting US special envoy on Iran, also voiced his shock and concern over reports of the incident, stating that Washington stands with the courageous people of Iran and seeks to hold the regime accountable for its abuses.
The case has ignited extensive discussions on social media, with a purported video of the incident circulating, suggesting that Garawand, seemingly unveiled, was forcibly pushed into the metro by police agents, only to be later removed as an immobile figure.
A Norway-based NGO, Iran Human Rights, has called for an independent international investigation to uncover the full details of the incident, accusing Tehran of having a history of distorting facts and concealing evidence of their transgressions.
“The Islamic Republic continues its harassment and repression of women under the guise of combating violations of mandatory hijab rules,” stated the group’s director, Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam.
Hengaw reported that Armita Garawand is currently receiving medical treatment under stringent security measures at Tehran’s Fajr hospital. They also shared a photo purportedly showing Garawand in her hospital bed, connected to a feeding tube, with her head and neck heavily bandaged.
Garawand’s parents were compelled to give an interview to Iranian state media at the hospital, reportedly under considerable pressure and in the presence of high-ranking security officers, as noted by Hengaw. Baerbock emphasized that the family should have the right to be by their daughter’s side without being thrust in front of cameras.
Armita Garawand is a resident of Tehran but originally hails from the city of Kermanshah in Iran’s Kurdish-populated west, according to Hengaw.
In a disturbing turn of events, Maryam Lotfi, a journalist from the Shargh daily newspaper, was detained immediately after attempting to visit the hospital following the incident. Fortunately, she was later released, as reported by Hengaw.
By AFP
