(Reuters) – The official IRNA news agency reported on Saturday that Armita Geravand, a 16-year-old Iranian girl, has passed away following an alleged encounter with officers for violating the country’s hijab law.
“Unfortunately, she fell into a coma for some time and suffered brain damage. She passed away a few minutes ago,” IRNA reported.
Last week, Geravand was declared brain dead after falling into a coma on Oct 1.
The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police last September triggered months of anti-government protests that escalated into the largest display of opposition to Iranian authorities in years.
Human rights groups were the first to disclose Geravand’s hospitalization, sharing photos on social media that depicted her unconscious and receiving life support with a respiratory tube and her head bandaged. Reuters could not confirm the authenticity of the images.
Iran refutes claims that Geravand was injured during a confrontation on Oct. 1 with officers enforcing the compulsory Islamic dress code in the Tehran metro.
In Iran, women are legally obligated to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting attire. This requirement originated after the revolution in 1979 that led to the overthrow of the secular and Western-backed Shah.
While individuals who violate the strict Islamic dress code can face public admonishment, fines, or even arrest, more women have been publicly appearing without a hijab in places like restaurants and shops since Amini’s death.
(Editing by Jason Neely)
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