Mahsa Amini’s household has refuted claims she suffered from pre-existing medical situations as prompt by Iranian authorities, saying she was completely wholesome.
Tehran, Iran – An Iranian police chief categorically denied allegations a girl who was arrested for carrying an “improper hijab” and died in custody was overwhelmed as public anger over the 22 12 months previous’s demise continues.
Addressing a information convention on Monday, Tehran’s police chief, Brigadier-Basic Hossein Rahimi, mentioned claims Mahsa Amini was overwhelmed or in any method mistreated are “fully false”.
“Cowardly accusations have been levelled towards the police, which we’ll defer to the day of judgement, however is it doable to close down the society’s safety?” he mentioned.
Amini travelled to Tehran together with her household final week when she was detained by the so-called morality police – referred to as Gasht-e Ershad or Islamic steering patrol. She died on Friday a number of days after struggling a stroke and cardiac arrest.
Footage aired by state tv final week confirmed Amini in a “steering centre” the place ladies are taken to be educated on how their head protecting – which has been obligatory since Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution – runs counter to society’s norms.
She will get as much as speak to a feminine “skilled” on the centre and moments later holds her head in her arms and collapses whereas talking with the girl.
A barely prolonged clip proven by Rahimi on Monday confirmed how paramedics moved her to a less-crowded hallway and tried to revive Amini earlier than taking her to a hospital – which the police chief mentioned took lower than 5 minutes.
‘Like my very own daughter’
Quoting an unnamed supply, the semi-official Fars information web site earlier reported Amini suffered from epilepsy and diabetes and had a mind tumour operation when she was 5. However her household denied the claims, saying she was completely wholesome and suffered from no pre-existing situations.
No footage or potential witness accounts have been launched from the time of Amini’s detention. Rahimi mentioned the officers who made the arrest weren’t geared up with physique cameras and there have been no recording gadgets within the police van that carried her. However he mentioned Amini was wholesome and even made jokes when she was within the van.
The health worker’s workplace has mentioned it’s conducting checks on samples taken from Amini’s physique following her demise and can announce the outcomes to the judiciary after an investigation is full.
Along with the judiciary and parliament, President Ebrahim Raisi has ordered a probe. He additionally known as Amini’s household on Sunday and promised outcomes, saying “your daughter is like my very own daughter”.
Public backlash
The younger lady’s demise has sparked a wave of anger on social media and a sequence of demonstrations.
Social media inside and out of doors Iran has been awash with posts mentioning her identify passing the three million mark on Twitter whereas changing into prime trending in a number of nations. Some ladies have filmed themselves reducing their hair whereas others took off their hijab in movies.
Politicians, actors, footballers, and celebrities have expressed their emotions on social media or throughout interviews with native media, whereas a number of internationally famend figures, together with JK Rowling, have commented.
A whole bunch participated in Amini’s funeral within the metropolis of Saqqez in Kurdistan province after which demonstrated in entrance of the governor’s workplace. There have been additionally protests within the metropolis of Sanandaj, additionally in Kurdistan, which had been dispersed by tear fuel.
Dozens of scholars protested in assist of Amini on the College of Tehran on Sunday, and scholar teams known as for demonstrations on Monday at a number of different universities.