The United States has expressed its profound sorrow over the recent passing of Armita Geravand, a 17-year-old girl from Iran’s Kurdish region, who had been in a coma following a controversial incident in Tehran’s metro. In a statement, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan condemned the tragedy, pointing out concerns of state-sponsored violence and the fragility of the Iranian regime.
“I am deeply saddened to learn that Amita Geravand has died after being beaten by Iran’s morality police for not wearing a hijab in public,” Sullivan stated on X, the former Twitter, using an alternative spelling of her name. “Iran’s state-sponsored violence against its own people is appalling and underscores the fragility of the regime.”
Armita Geravand had been in a coma at Tehran’s Fajr hospital since October 1 after losing consciousness in the city’s metro. Tragically, she was declared brain-dead a week prior to her passing.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain hotly disputed. A surveillance video widely circulated on social media showed Geravand, who was not wearing a veil, being carried from the metro after losing consciousness. However, a Kurdish-focused rights group called Hengaw claimed that she had been critically wounded in a confrontation with Iran’s so-called morality police, who enforce strict dress codes mandating women to wear veils in public.
Conversely, Iranian authorities asserted that Geravand had fallen and injured her head after experiencing a sudden drop in blood pressure, denying any “physical or verbal altercations” had occurred.
This tragic incident draws parallels with the death of Mahsa Amini, another young Iranian Kurd, who passed away over a year ago following her arrest by the morality police for allegedly breaching the dress code. Amini’s death led to widespread protests across the Islamic republic.
The death of Armita Geravand underscores the ongoing debate regarding human rights and state-sanctioned actions in Iran, raising international concerns about the treatment of citizens who choose not to adhere to strict dress codes. The U.S. government’s response reflects its commitment to addressing such concerns on the global stage.
Sources By Agencies
