Iran's president has ordered an investigation within the case of a younger girl who slipped right into a coma whereas in custody in Tehran and died, state media reported on Friday. The police have mentioned she suffered a coronary heart assault.
In keeping with the state-run IRNA information company, President Ebrahim Raisi requested Inside Minister Ahmad Vahidi to "examine the reason for the incident with urgency and particular consideration."
In keeping with stories by native media, Mahsa Amini, 22, was detained earlier this week by the so-called "morality police" after officers apparently discovered fault together with her scarf, or hijab.
The scarf has been obligatory for girls in Iran since after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and members of the morality police implement the strict costume code.
Police mentioned on Thursday that Amini, who was arrested on Tuesday, was taken to a hospital after she allegedly had a coronary heart assault whereas in custody. Professional-reform information web sites quoted an uncle of Amini as saying she had no historical past of coronary heart illness.
On Friday, police mentioned there was no violence towards or bodily contact between officers and Amini whereas she was in custody. Police additionally confirmed closed-circuit footage showing to point out Amini inside a police station, with different detainees.
At one level she stands up from a chair, goes to talk to a different girl, then holds her head with each palms, stumbles in opposition to a chair and collapses. Within the subsequent phase she is being carried away on a stretcher.
The official web site of Iran's judiciary, Mizan.information, mentioned that Tehran's chief prosecutor, Ali Salehi, ordered a police staff of forensic pathologists to look at the medical points of the case.
Iran's morality police has been criticized in recent times over its remedy of individuals, particularly younger girls, and movies uploaded on social media have proven officers forcing girls into police autos.
Iran's supreme chief, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has supported a softer perspective towards girls who don't adjust to the official costume code.
However hard-liners have known as for harsh punishment and even lashes, arguing that permitting girls to point out their hair results in ethical decay and the disintegration of households. The judiciary has in recent times urged individuals to tell on girls who don't put on the hijab.
Since 2017, after dozens of girls publicly took off their headscarves in a wave of protests, the authorities adopted more durable measures.
"Numerous victims of the Islamic Republic's struggle on girls"
Amini's case has drawn condemnation from Iranian celebrities, athletes and different public figures.
Former pro-reform President Mohammad Khatami mentioned the habits of the morality police was a "catastrophe" whereas outspoken politician and former lawmaker Mahmoud Sadeghi known as on Khamenei to talk publicly about Amini's case.
Widespread former soccer participant, Ali Karimi, tweeted that whereas kids of high-ranking officers are leaving the nation, "our kids are dying."
Hossein Mahini, one other former soccer participant, mentioned in a tweet, addressing the morality police: "We hate you."
Photos posted on social media confirmed crowds gathering outdoors the hospital the place she was being handled and police in search of to disperse the handfuls who had gathered.
"The circumstances resulting in the suspicious demise in custody of 22-year-old younger girl Mahsa Amini, which embody allegations of torture and different ill-treatment in custody, have to be criminally investigated," Amnesty Worldwide mentioned.
"The so-called 'morality police' in Tehran arbitrarily arrested her three days earlier than her demise whereas imposing the nation's abusive, degrading and discriminatory compelled veiling legal guidelines. All brokers and officers accountable should face justice," it added.
On Twitter, outstanding Iranian lawyer Saeed Dehghan described Amini's demise as a "homicide," saying she had suffered a blow to the pinnacle which had precipitated the bottom of her cranium to fracture.
A number of lawmakers mentioned they might elevate the case in parliament whereas the judiciary mentioned it could kind a particular process drive to research.
The New York-based Middle for Human Rights in Iran described her demise as a "preventable tragedy."
"Mahsa Amini is one amongst numerous victims of the Islamic Republic's struggle on girls," mentioned Hadi Ghaemi, the group's government director. "She was arrested underneath the guise of the state's forced-hijab regulation and died shortly after. The federal government is accountable for her demise and a long time of girls being harassed, detained and in any other case harmed underneath the guise of this discriminatory, inhuman regulation."
Amini's demise comes amid rising controversy each inside and out of doors Iran over the conduct of the morality police, identified formally because the Gasht-e Ershad (Steering Patrol).
In July, a video of a lady standing in entrance of one of many drive's vans pleading for her daughter's launch went viral on social media.
The veiled girl saved holding on to the van because it pulled off, solely being thrown clear after it gathered pace.
Additionally in July, a younger Iranian girl, Sepideh Rashno, disappeared after turning into concerned in a dispute on a Tehran bus with one other girl who accused her of eradicating her scarf.
She was held by the Revolutionary Guards and appeared on tv in what activists mentioned was a compelled confession earlier than being launched on bail in late August.
Activists accuse Iran of being within the throes of a significant crackdown that has effects on all areas of society, together with a brand new push in opposition to the Bahai spiritual minority, demise sentences for gays, a surge in executions and arrests of overseas nationals.
Raisi plans to journey to New York for the UN Common Meeting subsequent month the place he's set to face intense scrutiny over Iran's human rights document.
AFP contributed to this report.