An Iranian teenager is currently in a coma and receiving treatment in a hospital under tight security after an incident on the Tehran subway, according to a rights group. The 16-year-old girl, identified as Armita Garawand, was allegedly assaulted by female police officers, as reported by the Kurdish-focused rights group Hengaw. However, Iranian authorities have denied these claims, stating that the girl fainted due to low blood pressure and that security forces were not involved.
It’s important to note that tensions remain high in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in custody after being arrested for violating dress rules for women. Amini’s death led to months of protests that challenged Iran’s clerical leadership. Activists claim that thousands were arrested and hundreds were killed in the subsequent crackdown.
According to Hengaw, Garawand suffered severe injuries during her encounter with the so-called morality police at the Shohada metro station in Tehran. She is currently receiving treatment in Fajr hospital, under strict security measures that prohibit any visits, including from her family. Hengaw shared a photo showing Garawand heavily bandaged and attached to a feeding tube, stating that her consciousness has not improved.
Despite residing in Tehran, Garawand is originally from Kermanshah, a city in western Iran with a Kurdish population. Following the incident, journalist Maryam Lotfi from the Shargh daily newspaper attempted to visit the hospital but was detained and later released.
The case has gained significant attention on social media, where a video allegedly showing Garawand being pushed into the metro by female police officers circulated. Masood Dorosti, the managing director of the Tehran subway system, denied any conflict between the student and other passengers or metro executives, stating that CCTV footage refutes the claims.
This incident occurs amidst a renewed crackdown on women who defy Iran’s strict dress rules, including the mandatory hijab. The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) based in New York reports an increase in violence, arbitrary arrests, and discrimination against women and girls following the reactivation of forced-veiling police patrols by the Islamic Republic
