'Hijab Refusal' Woman's Suspicious Death... Sparks Anti-Government Protests

22-Year-Old Woman Collapses During Investigation at Tehran Police Station
Internet Blocked Following Consecutive Protests and Critical Posts

(Photo by Asia Economy DB)
A 22-year-old Iranian woman collapsed at a police station in Tehran and died under suspicious circumstances on the 16th (local time) after being arrested for not wearing a hijab.
The photo is not related to any specific expression in the article.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jung]

A woman in her 20s who was arrested in Iran for not wearing a hijab suddenly died, sparking anti-government protests in response.

According to foreign media including Reuters, Mahsa Amini (22) collapsed during an investigation at a police station in Tehran, the capital of Iran, and was transferred to a hospital but fell into a coma and died on the 16th (local time).

She was reportedly arrested by the morality police on the 13th for not wearing a hijab and collapsed while being questioned on the same day.

In Iran, under Sharia law implemented after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, all women aged 9 and above must wear a hijab in public places to cover their hair and wear long, loose clothing that does not reveal their figure. Violations result in fines or arrest.

Iranian state TV released CCTV footage showing Amini sitting in front of police officers and then collapsing as she stood up.

The police stated that no violence was used during the investigation and that Amini appeared to have died of a heart attack, but her family denied this, saying she was healthy and had no history of heart disease.

Some media reported that she had bruises on her head, leading to many posts on Iranian social media (SNS) questioning her death or criticizing the mandatory hijab law.

Following this, videos appeared on SNS showing protesters gathered around the hospital where Amini was admitted, chanting anti-government slogans and honking car horns in protest against the government.

Iran often blocks the internet to prevent the spread of anti-government protests. On the 17th, NetBlocks, an internet control monitoring site, tweeted, "Internet in Tehran is significantly restricted. Connectivity is at 67% of normal."

Robert Malley, the U.S. special envoy for Iran, also tweeted, "The death of Mahsa Amini, detained for an 'improper' hijab, is horrific... Those responsible for her death must be held accountable."

As public opinion worsened, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi ordered the Ministry of Interior and the Prosecutor's Office to conduct a fact-finding investigation into the incident.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.