DUBAI (UAE) (Archyde.com) – Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who died suddenly following being detained by police, sparked protests across Iran. Sources close to her family say Amini is a shy, reserved woman from a small town who has never challenged religious leaders or Islamic law’s dress code.
Amini, from Suggez in the northwestern state of Kurdistan, fell unconscious following being arrested and was taken to hospital, where he died three days later on September 13. Protests sparked by his death intensified. It was the largest demonstration since 2019, when 1,500 people died protesting a petrol price hike.
Authorities denied assaulting Amini and said the cause of death was “acute heart failure”, possibly due to a pre-existing medical condition. But her family denies that the 22-year-old Amini had any health problems.
Amini has stayed away from politics, just taking care of himself, two people close to the family say. In the Islamic Republic of Iran, many people tend to choose this way of life to avoid trouble.
But when Amini came to the capital Tehran with her family to visit her uncle, she paid a heavy price for not paying attention to the details of her outfit.
She was arrested in the evening shortly following she stepped off at the station.
The moral police, organized to enforce Iran’s conservative dress code in order to “promote virtues and ban vices”, suddenly confronted Amini.
These units, typically consisting of male and female police officers in vans, wait in crowded public spaces to crack down on illegal behavior and dress.
What is her sin? She was wearing tight trousers.
Amini and her brother begged forgiveness for being unfamiliar with such rules in Tehran. She begged her brother not to be taken away by the police.
Amini’s brother waited for her in front of the Bozara Morality Police Station. An ambulance arrived two hours later. Amini was taken to Kasra Hospital.
The hospital did not provide any explanation to Amini’s family. Even in the autopsy room, her body was covered up and her father might only see part of her bruised leg.
“He kept asking doctors to tell him what was going on with his daughter, but no one answered,” the source said.
A woman arrested with her told Amini’s father that she had been assaulted in the van she was being taken to. She was crying and pleading for her release.
“Police told the father that the cameras in the van were not working, so the family does not know what happened in the van or in the detention center,” said a family source.
“The family does not believe the footage released by the authorities of her suddenly collapsing inside the police station. They believe the footage was edited.”
In an instant, she was robbed of her dreams of graduating from college and one day getting married and having children.
“She wanted a normal, happy life.” One of the people involved apologized.
Iranian President Raisi has said he has ordered an investigation into Amini’s case.
Authorities said 41 people, including police and security forces, were killed in the protests. Human rights groups in Iran have published even higher death tolls.
Amini’s sudden death sparked outrage around the world, while the Iranian government accused the “rioters” of being associated with “foreign enemies”. The government has accused the United States and some European countries of using the incident to destabilize the Iranian regime.
Away from these political moves, Amini’s family is trying to find out the truth behind her death.
Her mother argued that Amini’s hijab was appropriate. During her funeral, she repeatedly said, “Why, why. Her daughter wore the hijab correctly and her coat was long and black. I don’t know why she was arrested.” .
“Where is my daughter? Where are my children?”
According to an Instagram post by the hospital, Amini was already brain dead when he arrived at the hospital. This statement has since been removed.
“After resuscitation, her heart started beating once more and it was decided that she would be sent to the intensive care unit,” the hospital said.
“Unfortunately, 48 hours later, on Friday, she suffered another brain-dead cardiac arrest. Despite the best efforts of the medical team, she was unable to revive her and she died.”
Iranian authorities have told Amini’s relatives not to discuss the matter, according to family sources. Calls to her father’s, mother’s and uncle’s mobile phones went unanswered.
