According to state media reports, a 16-year-old Iranian girl, Armita Geravand, who fell into a coma following an alleged encounter with morality police, is now declared “brain dead.” Armita collapsed after boarding a Tehran metro train on October 1.
Activists accused the morality police of assaulting her for not wearing a hijab, but authorities contended that she had fainted. Her parents and activists have not yet confirmed her current condition. Armita is currently receiving treatment at Tehran’s Fajr hospital under tight security.
Many Iranians have drawn comparisons with the case of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in custody in September 2022 after being detained by morality police in Tehran, allegedly for improper hijab. Witnesses reported that she was beaten by officers, while authorities attributed her death to pre-existing medical conditions. Amini’s death led to anti-government protests across the country, resulting in a violent crackdown by security forces, with hundreds killed and thousands detained.
CCTV footage released by Iranian authorities shows Armita Geravand boarding a train in Tehran with her hair uncovered, accompanied by two other girls. Moments later, one of the girls exits the train and bends down, and several passengers are seen carrying an unconscious Armita to the platform.
Human rights group Hengaw alleged that Armita was “physically attacked by authorities” for her perceived non-compliance with the compulsory hijab, resulting in severe injuries. However, the managing director of the Tehran metro denied any conflict between Armita and other passengers or metro officials.
Hengaw later posted a photo on social media, claiming it was Armita unconscious in the hospital with a bandaged head and attached to a breathing tube. State broadcaster IRINN reported that her latest health condition indicates she is “brain dead,” despite medical staff’s efforts.
In a separate development, two female journalists, Niloufar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, were sentenced to lengthy prison terms for reporting on Mahsa Amini’s death last year. They were convicted of “collaborating with the hostile American government” and “colluding against national security.” The women denied the charges and asserted they were simply doing their jobs.
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