Protests erupted in western Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in hospital on September 16, three days after she was arrested and reportedly beaten by vice police in Tehran. The Guardian writes about it.
Demonstrators first gathered outside the Qasra Hospital in Tehran, where Amini died. Police fired pepper spray at the protesters and some were arrested.
Amini's body was then taken to her home province of Kurdistan for burial, and the funeral took place on the morning of 17 September.
“The security authorities forced the Amini family to hold a funeral without any ceremony to prevent possible protests,” Kurdish human rights activist Soma Rostami told the publication.
Despite warnings, hundreds of people turned out for the funeral in Sakkez, Amini's hometown. Some of those gathered shouted "death to the dictator" and other anti-government slogans.
Kurdish organizations have called for a general strike throughout Kurdistan. Protesters tear down posters of Iranian leaders. The police use firearms.
Videos circulating on social media showed protesters in Saqqez tearing down posters of Iranian leader Ayatollah Khamenei.
On September 13 in Tehran, Amini was arrested by the vice police for allegedly violating the country's strict hijab law. Her family was told that she would be released from the police station after a "re-education session".
Witnesses reported that Amini was beaten in the detention van, but the police denied this. Two hours elapsed between the detention and the hospital. Doctors diagnosed Amini with a stroke and a heart attack, her kidneys failed and the girl fell into a coma. Officials deny all allegations and say that the deceased simply started having heart problems.
The publication writes that, as during previous protests, the Iranian authorities seem to have limited access to the Internet.
Authorities have launched an investigation into Amini's death, state media reported.
