Mahsa Amini Death In Hijab Custody: Five Killed At Protests, Police Deny Accusations

 The death of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini in the morality police custody of Iran has caused a massive uproar in the country. After protests broke out post her death, five people were killed after the security forces opened fire at the riots. Amini died on Friday after three days of being in a state of coma. For ages now, offenders against Iran's law and hijab rules have been facing arrests or fines. The morality police continue to curb the choices of women even today in the country, and the latest unfortunate incident accelerates the hardened rules that women in Iran are subjected to.

22-year-old Mahsa Amini fell into a coma last week after she was arrested by the morality police for breaking the rules of hijab. While the witnesses accused the police of brutally beating her, Hossein Rahimi the Police Brigadier General has denied the allegations. Amini's death led to protests in the capital and several parts of western Iran, leading to the death of a few protestors during the riots.

Suggested reading: Mahsa Amini Death: Why Are Iranian Women Burning Hijab And Chopping Hair?

Five Killed in an open fire

According to reports, two people were killed during protests at the Kurdish city of Saqez, which happens to be Amini's hometown. The security forces opened fire at the protests leading to the death of the two. While two more people lost their lives owing to direct fire in the Divandarreh town, another person was killed in the area of Dehgolan.

Hengaw, the Kurdish right group, has claimed that over 33 people have been injured while on protest in Saqez. While protestors in Iran have been out on the streets, people across the world are condemning Amini's death on social media.

Iran police call Amini's death unfortunate

Police Brigadier General Hossein Rahimi said that while Amini's death is unfortunate, the police had not caused her coma. Calling the allegations "cowardice accusations", Rahimi said that the police tried their best to keep Amini alive and that they had no role in harming her. The police representatives further added that Amini suffered sudden heart failure while awaiting with other women who had been arrested. The police released CCTV footage where a woman identified as Amini is seen talking with a female official. She is then seen putting her hand on her head and collapsing soon after, according to the claims by the police. While a minister mentioned that Amini had health issues from earlier, her father told the media that his daughter was fit and had no prior health problems. He added that Amini carried several bruises on her legs and that the police did not show the part having edited the events shown in the video.

However, witnesses have accused the police saying they saw Amini getting beaten up in the police van after she was detained for breaking the law that enforces women to cover their hair with a scarf and cover their legs and arms with loose clothing.