Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died after being imprisoned by morality police for allegedly not conforming to the country’s strict Islamic dress code, has sparked protests in Iran and other nations.
Videos showing protestors sprinting down a street while a shooting broke out have prompted a senior Iranian official to call for a severe response from security personnel.
In the two weeks following the death of Mahsa Amini, the country has witnessed some of the most significant protests in years.
Her family claims she was “tortured” when imprisoned by morality police for allegedly violating the country’s strict Islamic dress code.
Sunday, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian parliament, warned that protests over her death could destabilize the country.
He informed MPs that, in contrast to the present rallies, which he claimed were intended to overthrow the government, earlier demonstrations by teachers and pensioners over salary were intended to bring about improvements.
Mr. Qalibaf stated that the significance of the (previous) protests was that they were reform-oriented and not intended at overturning the regime.
“I implore all those who have (reasons to) protest not to allow their protest to lead to the destabilization and overthrow of institutions,” he continued.
As a show of support for a crackdown on the large demonstrations, legislators chanted “thank you police” during the session of parliament.
There was gunfire, tear gas, and at least 133 deaths.
His remarks came after Iranian security forces battled with protesting students at a prestigious university in Tehran, the nation’s capital.
Multiple footages depict individuals fleeing as gunfire rang out near Sharif University.
One tape depicted security officers using tear gas to drive students off campus, while the sound of apparent gunfire could be heard in the background.
Students demonstrated at various universities on Sunday, and demonstrations were organized in places including Tehran, Yazd, Kermanshah, Sanandaj, Shiraz, and Mashhad, with people chanting “independence, freedom, death to Khamenei,” as seen by prior social media posts.
Iran Human Rights, an organization based in Norway, reported that “so far 133 people have been slain across Iran,” including more than 40 people killed in skirmishes in Zahedan, the capital of the southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, last week.
Hadis Najafi, a 23-year-old TikTok celebrity, was among those fatally shot during the demonstrations.
Many members of the security forces have been slain by “rioters and thugs backed by foreign opponents,” according to the Iranian government, which has not offered specific information on the death toll.
In solidarity with Iranian women, waves of women have protested and shaved their heads around the world.
What became Mahsa Amini?
According to Iran’s Islamic dress code, Ms. Amini was arrested on September 13 for wearing her headscarf too loosely, which is considered “unsuitable attire.”
She passed away in the hospital three days after going into a coma.
Her family has claimed she was “tortured” and that a hospital report indicates she “suffered a concussion from a blow to the head”; nevertheless, the specifics of her autopsy have not been made public.
The Iranian authorities assert that Ms. Amini died of a heart attack and deny that she was battered to death while in jail.
Without providing evidence, independent experts connected with the United Nations assert that sources indicate she was severely assaulted by the morality police.
President Ebrahim Raisi, a staunch nationalist, has ordered a probe into her death.
