By Iran Probe staff
Armita Geravand, a 17-year-old girl, has become the latest casualty in the Iranian regime’s relentless war on women. Her untimely death, which occurred on October 28, has once again highlighted the oppressive nature of the compulsory hijab policy enforced by the regime. Armita suffered a brain injury on October 1 when she was violently attacked by a “hijab-ban” officer in the Tehran subway. Despite being in a coma and subjected to extreme security measures and censorship, her tragic demise serves as a haunting reminder of the plight faced by Iranian teenagers and youth, particularly girls, living under the rule of the mullahs.
Armita’s case is not an isolated incident but rather part of a pattern of repression against women and girls within Iran. Countless lives have been lost due to the regime’s strict enforcement of the compulsory hijab. Armita’s assailant is the same archetype responsible for the horrific attack on Gina (Mahsa) Amini and the countless incidents where Iranian women and girls have been pushed to harm themselves or have fallen victim to violent acts. From the 2022 uprising to historical events like the deaths of Nikta Esfandani in 2019 and Neda Agha Soltan in 2009, the regime’s hand is stained with the blood of innocent Iranian women and girls.
The Iranian regime, fully aware of the potential social backlash Armita’s case could ignite, took extensive measures to conceal their crime. These tactics have become all too familiar to the Iranian people. Journalists were barred from the scene, and those who attempted to investigate were arrested. The regime disseminated false information to distort the truth, pressured Armita’s family into providing a misleading account of the incident, and manipulated CCTV footage to fit their narrative. Additionally, they prevented UN representatives, officials, and human rights organizations from obtaining clear answers about the incident. All these actions were carried out to suppress public outrage and maintain control.
However, these efforts to silence the truth are unlikely to ensure the survival of the regime. Armita’s death, like those before her, was not an isolated incident but a reflection of the regime’s systemic oppression. As long as the current regime remains in power, innocent Iranian women and girls will continue to be its primary victims. The regime’s attempts to divert attention through propaganda projects and the manipulation of public sentiment will not deceive the Iranian people. Armita’s death has become another rallying cry for the Iranian people’s unwavering determination to overthrow the brutal and oppressive regime.
The regime’s exploitation of the ongoing conflict in Gaza to divert attention from Armita’s tragic death is further evidence of their disregard for the lives of their own people. The Iranian government, which denies its own citizens the right to life, hypocritically uses international tragedies to fuel its warmongering agenda. However, the Iranian people see through these deceptive tactics.
Armita’s blood, like that of others unjustly spilled, will fuel the popular rage against the repressive regime. The Iranian people’s relentless efforts to bring about change and topple the mullahs’ regime cannot be extinguished. Armita’s death serves as a poignant reminder that the struggle for freedom and equality in Iran continues, and the regime’s oppressive policies will not go unchallenged.
