Protests erupt at funeral of Iranian woman who died after morality police arrest

Protests broke out in western Iran on Saturday at the funeral of a young woman who died after being detained by morality police enforcing strict hijab rules, as security forces used tear gas to disperse demonstrators.

Videos posted on social media showed protesters shouting anti-government slogans after gathering in Saqez, hometown of Mahsa Amini, from nearby cities in Iran’s Kurdistan province as they mourned the 22-year-old who died in a hospital in the capital Tehran on Friday.

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“Death to the dictator” - a reference to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, chanted some protesters, while police fired tear gas. At least one man was shown with an injury to the head on a video where someone could be heard saying that it was caused by birdshot. Reuters could not authenticate the videos.

One video posted on Twitter shows a bloodied man lying on the ground and being taken to hospital.

“This is the real Iran, Security forces in Iran’s Saqqez opened fire at peaceful protesters following the burial of #Mahsa_Amini,” Masih Alinejad, Iranian journalist and activist tweeted.

“Several protesters have been injured. First Hijab police killed a 22 Yr [sic] old girl and now using guns and tear gas against grieving people,” the Tweet continued.

Protests spread later on Saturday to the provincial capital, Sanandaj, with social media videos showing crowds chanting “Saqez is not alone, it’s supported by Sanandaj.” Marchers were seen confronting riot police amid the sound of sporadic gunfire.

In the past few months, rights activists have urged women to publicly remove their veils, a gesture that would risk their arrest for defying the Islamic dress code as the country’s hardline rulers crack down on “immoral behavior.”

Videos posted on social media have shown cases of what appeared to be heavy-handed action by morality police units against women who had removed their hijab.

Authorities have launched probes into the death of Amini, but a medical examiner said on Saturday results of forensic tests may take three weeks, state media reported.

Police said Amini was taken ill as she waited together with other detained women at a morality police station, rejecting allegations on social media that she was likely beaten.

Police released closed-circuit television footage apparently supporting their version of events. Reuters could not authenticate the video, which appeared to have been edited.

Police earlier said Amini had suffered a heart attack after being taken to the station to be “educated.” Her relatives have denied she suffered any heart condition.

Prominent sports and arts figures posted critical social media comments about Amini’s death and protests were held in a Tehran on Friday amid a heavy presence of riot police.

As during past protests, authorities appeared to have restricted mobile internet access in Saqez and nearby areas, social media posts said.

Internet blockage observatory NetBlocks reported “a significant internet outage” in Tehran on Friday, linking it to the protests.

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