The plight of women in Iran continues to spark outrage and make international headlines. This time, it is the moving story of a young 16-year-old Iranian girl, Armita Garavand, who was violently attacked in the Tehran metro because she was not wearing the veil.
According to information reported by the NGO Hengaw, Armita was attacked by officers of the moral police, which led to her loss of consciousness and her emergency hospitalization. The video surveillance images broadcast by Irna seem to refute this version, showing an unconscious teenager in the metro, without showing any physical aggression.
However, the murky circumstances surrounding this incident are sadly reminiscent of the emblematic case of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in September 2022 following her arrest by the moral police for non-compliance with the dress code imposed on women in Iran.
The fact that the hospital where Armita is hospitalized is under close surveillance and that even the staff of the establishment are prohibited from accessing her floor, raises serious questions as to the true seriousness of her state of health and the desire of the Iranian authorities to conceal the reality of the violence suffered by the young girl.
These tragic events once again highlight the systematic repression carried out in Iran against women who refuse to conform to society’s rigid norms. Despite protests and calls for justice, women’s rights continue to be continually violated, leaving a climate of fear and repression to reign supreme.
The situation in Iran highlights the crucial importance of the fight for women’s rights around the world. It is essential that the international community continues to support and amplify the voices of Iranian women who are courageously fighting for their freedom and autonomy.
These sad and shocking events should serve as a constant reminder of our collective responsibility to fight for gender equality and defend the human rights of all women, regardless of where they live. It is time for the world to stand up against injustice and demand real, tangible change.