Fourth Day of Nationwide Protests Following Mahsa Amini’s Death

On September 20, 2022, nationwide protests over the death of Mahsa Amini by Morality Police were held in at least 26 cities in Iran. In most cities, the protest turned violent as the police used teargas, pellet guns and shotguns against the protestors. According to the reports obtained by HRANA, the internet and phone services were shut down or disrupted in numerous cities across the country, including in Arak, Qazvin, Kermanshah, Bukan, Baneh, Sanandaj, Tehran, Saqqez, and Ahvaz.

On several university campuses, students held protests against compulsory Hejab. In many cases, the university security used violence against the students.

During the past few days since the death of Mahsa Amini, several individuals have been arrested.

The map below shows the geographical distribution of protests in the past four days in at least 26 cities. These cities include Mashhad, Tabriz, Qazvin, Sabzevar, Mariwan, Bandar-Abbas, Bukan, Rasht, Rafsanjan, Sari, Arak, Hamedan, Tehran, Qom, Yasuj, Ilam, Kermanshah, Birjand, Karaj, Isfahan, Kerman, Shiraz, Khorramabad, Kish, Zanjan, and Naqade.


 

The students in several universities held demonstrations, including the University of Science and Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, University of Science and Culture, Kharazmi University, Yazd University, Tehran University, the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the Sharif University of Technology.

 

During these protests, Iranians chanted slogans such as “woman, life, freedom”, “we are all Mahsa, we will fight back”, “from Kurdistan to Tabriz, we are fed up, “justice, freedom, not compulsory hejab”,  “students die, but do not accept disgrace”, “years of atrocities, death to the regime.”

As the map below illustrates, during the past four days, cities such as Arak, Qazvin, Kermanshah, Bukan, Baneh, Sanandaj, Mashhad, Tehran, Saqqez, and Ahvaz faced internet and mobile service disruptions or shutdowns.


The representative of Saqqez in the parliament said that if the city remains calm, the internet will be connected again.

In response to a user’s comment asking if Starlink can be used for satellite internet access, business magnate Elon Musk asserted “The Starlink will ask for an exemption to Iranian sanctions in this regard.”

Mahsa Amini was arrested by Tehran Morality Police at a train station for improper hejab. She fell into a coma after a head trauma caused by police brutality and later died at a hospital in Tehran.

Below is a compilation of the videos gathered on the fourth day of protests in Iran:

 

 

Report on the Third Day of Nationwide Protests Following Mahsa Amini’s Death

On September 19, 2022, the nationwide protests for Mahsa Amini’s death continued for the third consecutive day. People protested Amini’s death in the streets and they chanted slogans against the regime and police brutality against women. These protests turned violent by the police and security forces, and several protestors were injured. In Divandarreh, the government forces killed two individuals. The police also used tear gas, pellet guns and water cannons.

Universities of Tehran and Isfahan students chanted slogans “death to the dictator”, “Iran is soaked in blood, from Kurdistan to Tehran”, “Kurdistan, a graveyard for fascists”, “Woman, life, freedom”, and “we are all Mahsa, we will fight back.”

In the Kurdistan region of Iran, in response to a call for a general strike by media and opposition political parties, shopkeepers went on strike and closed the markets.

According to Shargh News Agency, MCI, the biggest internet service provider, has filtered the Keyword “Mahsa Amini”. NetBlocks, an internet monitoring organization reported a near-total disruption in some cities, including Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province.

Dozens of protestors have been arrested in different cities. In Saqqez, Mahsa Amini’s hometown, the security forces arrested at least 22 individuals, of which three have been taken to an unidentified location and the rest to the Saqqez Prison. The arrest of four individuals in Sanandaj, five in Paveh, one in Oshnavieh and one in Bukan have been verified so far. Two civil rights activists, Ribvar Kamrani-Pour and Amjad Saedi have also been arrested in Mariwan.

HRANA has also reported the arrest of two individuals, Nazanin Haji-Zadeh and writer and film director Mahnaz Mohammadi in Tehran.

Mahsa Amini was arrested by Tehran Morality Police at a train station for improper hejab. She fell into a coma after head trauma caused by police brutality and later died at a hospital in Tehran.

Mahsa Amini’s Death Sparks Nationwide Protests

The death of Mahsa Amini has sparked nationwide condemnation and protests in several cities in Iran. Amini was a 22-year-old woman from Saqqez, Kurdistan Province. She was arrested by Tehran Morality Police at a train station for improper hejab. She fell into a coma where she was in custody and then died in a hospital in Tehran.

Since Amini’s death, hundreds of individuals have organized protests, and businesses in a number of cities were closed in protest. On Saturday, September 17, there were also angry demonstrations during her funeral at her burial and in front of the governorate building in Saqqez, Kurdistan Province. The police used violence against the protestors using tear gas and gunshots. Several people have been injured. Kurdpa has identified Kian Derakhshan as being in critical condition. The video below shows the moment he was injured. 

Another individual identified as Parsa Sehat was injured in the eye and nose and is hospitalized in Tabriz.

The protests continued on Sunday, September 18. In Sanandaj, Kurdistan Province, people rallied and chanted slogans against the regime such as “Kurdistan, a graveyard for fascists”, and “Death to Dictator”. The police used the shooting to crack down on the protestors. Sanandaj’s residents have reported internet disruptions. Some videos show the deployment of special guard forces and water cannons. Moreover, several pictures on social media show some citizens have been injured by pellet guns.

Confirming the arrest of several protestors, the Deputy Governor of Kurdistan claimed that so far no one has been killed in the past two days.

In Mahabad, The police with a heavy presence attempted to scatter the crowd in order to prevent the protest.   

The University of Tehran students held a protest on campus. Also, in the Gohardasht district of Karaj, Mahabad, Sanandaj, Rasht, and several other cities demonstrations were held, where people chanted “death to the dictator”, “death to Khamanei”, and “woman, life, freedom.” 

­­Masha Amini Died in Hospital at Moral Police Custody 

On September 16, 2022, Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-woman who was hospitalized following being arrested by the police for her improper hejab, died at a hospital. Her death sparked widespread condemnation on social media and the reactions of numerous public figures, athletes and artists.

Amini was visiting Tehran from the Kurdistan region with her family. She was stopped by the Morality Police in Tehran and taken to the Vozara Station, where she underwent a stroke for unknown reasons.

An informed source told HRANA that during the arrest, the police told Amini’s brother that she would be released in an hour. However, she was taken to Kasra Hospital after a few hours. Some eyewitnesses leaving the detention facility stated that the detained women’s families who were present at the place and witnessing Amini’s condition began to protest. The police used violence and pepper spray to silence them.”

The Morality Police has a history of mistreating the individuals it collects from the streets. Therefore, people speculate that Amini is a victim of police brutality. Amnesty International has also called Amini’s death suspicious.

Earlier, the Greater Tehran police chief had claimed that Amini was taken to a police station where during an educational class, she suddenly had a heart attack, which her family denied.

Woman in Coma in Custody by Hejab Enforcement Causes Uproar in Iran

Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was visiting Tehran from the Kurdistan region was hospitalized due to brain and heart stroke when she was in the custody of Tehran’s Morality Police. The police took her into custody for what they deemed improper hejab. In response to the widespread public reaction on social media, the Greater Tehran police chief claimed that Amini was taken to a police station where during an educational class, she suddenly had a heart attack.

According to HRANA, the news agency of Human Rights Activists,  Amini was hospitalized after being assaulted and apprehended by Tehran’s Morality Police.

An informed source told HRANA that Amini is  22 years old and a resident of Saqqez. She had travelled to Tehran with her family to visit a relative. A few days ago, while she and her brother were passing through a street, she was stopped by the Morality Police. They beat her and took her to Vozara Police Station. They told her brother that she would be released after one hour. The police, however, beat her again in the police station and after a few hours, transferred her from the police station to a hospital.

Kurdpa has reported that Amini has undergone a grade 3 concussion and is in a coma. 

In recent months, Tehran’s Morality Police has increased their activities in the streets. 

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