Protests break out at funeral of Iranian woman who died after morals police arrest

DUBAI, Sept. 17 (Reuters) – Protests broke out in western Iran on Saturday at the funeral of a young woman who died after being detained by vices police enforcing strict hijab rules, while security forces used tear gas to disperse protesters .

Videos on social media showed protesters chanting anti-government slogans after gathering in Saqez, Mahsa Amini’s hometown, from nearby towns in Kurdistan province, as they mourned the 22-year-old at a hospital in the capital Tehran on Friday. died.

“Death to the dictator” – a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the crowd chanted as some women took off their headscarves. Police were seen firing tear gas and a video showed a man with a head injury, said to have been caused by a bird shot. Reuters could not verify the videos.

In recent months, human rights activists have urged women to publicly take off their veils, a gesture that would risk their arrest for violating Islamic dress codes, as the country’s harsh rulers crack down on “immoral behaviour.” read more

Videos posted on social media have shown instances of what appeared to be a crackdown by morality police units against women who had taken off their hijab.

Protests spread to the provincial capital, Sanandaj, later on Saturday with videos on social media in which crowds chanted: “Saqez is not alone, it is supported by Sanandaj”. Protesters were seen confronting riot police amid the sound of sporadic gunfire.

RESEARCH INTO DEATH

Authorities have launched probes into Amini’s death, but a medical examiner said on Saturday the results of forensic tests could take three weeks. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli told state television that there was no report that she had been beaten.

Police said Amini fell ill while waiting at a vice squad with other detained women, and dismissed accusations on social media that she may have been beaten.

Police have released closed-television footage that appears to support their version of events. Reuters was unable to verify the video, which appeared to have been edited.

Police previously said Amini had suffered a heart attack after being taken to the station to be “trained.” Her relatives have denied that she suffered from a heart condition.

Prominent sports and art figures posted critical social media comments about Amini’s death and protests were held in Tehran amid a heavy riot police presence on Friday.

As during previous protests, authorities appeared to have restricted access to mobile internet in Saqez and nearby areas, social media posts said.

Internet Blocking Observatory NetBlocks reported “a significant internet outage” in Tehran on Friday, linking it to the protests. read more

Under Iran’s Sharia, or Islamic law, imposed after the 1979 revolution, women are required to cover their hair and wear long, loose-fitting clothing to disguise their figure. Violators face public reprimand, fines or arrest.

Decades after the revolution, ecclesiastical rulers still struggle to enforce the law, with many women of all ages and backgrounds wearing form-fitting, thigh-length coats and brightly colored scarves pushed back to expose a lot of hair.

Report by the Dubai editors; Editing by Alex Richardson

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