Tehran

Iran is witnessing a social rebellion of sorts over the alleged killing of a 22 year old girl for not wearing the Hijab properly.

Women across Iran have taken to the streets to demand the abolition of the regressive practice of mandatory hijab in Iran. According to news reports, hundreds of women gathered yesterday in Masha’s hometown of Sahis and removed their hijabs and threw them away in protest. Women protesting against the President of Iran, Ibrahim Raisi, raised slogans of ‘Death to the Dictator’. In many areas, the police chased away the protesters with batons.

Mehsa Amini allegedly slipped into coma after being severely beaten by the police. Her condition worsened as she did not get adequate medical attention in the hospital. The Iranian police has claimed that Mehsa died of a heart attack. The incident took place when Mehsa and her family from Kurdistan province were stopped by moral police on Tuesday on their way to the capital Tehran. Her brother alleged that Masha was severely beaten and put in a police vehicle for not covering her head fully with her hijab.

Mahsa’s brother alleged that they were waylaid by the moral police and when he resisted the attack, his hand was twisted. He said that his sister was taken to the police station and lectured. After that, the family received news of her death.

Iran is an Islamic country where women and girls above the age of nine are required to wear the hijab. Wearing the hijab, a head and face covering, has been compulsory in Iran since 1979. Violators are also given severe punishments.

Meanwhile, Iran’s ethics police unit has been deployed to strictly enforce dress codes.

The incident has evoked response from influential persons. Robert Malley, the U.S. envoy for Iran who is involved in efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, said those responsible for her death must be held accountable. "Mahsa Amini's death after injuries sustained in custody for an 'improper' hijab is appalling," he wrote on Twitter. "Iran must end its violence against women for exercising their fundamental rights.

Noted Iranian lawyer Saeed Dehghan described Amini's death as a "murder", saying she had suffered a blow to the head which had caused the base of her skull to fracture.