Iranian schoolgirl 'fell into coma' after alleged beating by morality police in Tehran

Ms Geravand is in critical condition, two human rights activists told Reuters. Photo: Twitter

A 16-year-old Iranian schoolgirl who was allegedly beaten by morality police on the subway for not wearing a hijab. He appears to be in a coma, according to photographs allegedly taken by hospital staff.

Hengau, a human rights group, said Armita Geravand was seriously injured in a «brutal physical attack» by female morality police officers in the Tehran metro. on Sunday.

Ms Geravand is in critical condition, two human rights activists told Reuters.

An unnamed visitor to Farj Military Hospital, where Ms Gheravand is being treated, said: “She is in the intensive care unit under heavy security. All branch visits have been cancelled. Her parents' mobile phones were taken away. We expect video footage from the train to emerge that will reveal the truth.»

Ms Geravand is being treated at a military hospital in Farja. Photo: Hengaw/Reddit

Iranian authorities denied the report and said Ms Geravand «fainted» due to low blood pressure, causing her to hit the side of the carriage. «Rumors of a physical confrontation with metro agents are not true» reality,” Masoud Dorosti, managing director of the Tehran Metro, told Fars news agency.

CCTV footage released by IRNA showed Ms Gheravand not wearing the mandatory hijab, accompanied by two friends, walking towards the train from the metro platform. Upon entering the cabin, one of the girls is seen immediately retreating and reaching to the ground before unconscious passengers pull the other girl out of the cabin.

New patrols have been created in the Tehran metro to monitor compliance with the wearing of the hijab. it was implemented in August by Alireza Zakani, the city's ultra-conservative mayor and former leader of the Basij militia.

CCTV footage shows Ms Gheravand not wearing the mandatory hijab. Photo: Times of Israel

The alleged beating has sent Iran into a tizzy, with many pointing out parallels with the case of Mahsa Amini, whose death in morality police custody last September This year sparked months of nationwide protests in which hundreds of people were killed or injured.

Ali Karimi, a former captain of Iran's national soccer team who lives in exile because of his opposition to the regime, blamed Iranian authorities for the incident.

“A killing machine The regime of the Islamic Republic continues to commit its crimes, and no one knows who the next victim could be,” Karimi said on social media.

UN Watch also responded to the incident, saying: “16-year-old Armita Geravand is now is in a coma after being beaten by the Islamic regime's morality police (which the New York Times says has been disbanded). On November 2, the Islamic regime will chair the Social Forum of the UN Human Rights Council. Why?”