Family on Mahsa Amini's death - 'She was tortured'

Created: 09/27/2022, 19:43

By: Caroline Schäfer

Thousands of people have been demonstrating against the regime in Iran since Mahsa Amini's death.

Now the family of the deceased is speaking.

Tehran - The nationwide protests in Iran continue.

This was triggered by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the moral police for violating the strict Islamic dress code and later died in police custody.

Demonstrators speak of police violence, the authorities reject the allegations.

Now the family of the 22-year-old has also commented on the circumstances of the death.

Mahsa Amini was tortured and killed in police custody.

Iran: Death of Mahsa Amini - "According to eyewitnesses she was tortured"

In the past week, numerous people traveled to Amini's funeral, including mainly relatives and friends.

"According to eyewitnesses, she was tortured," her cousin Erfan Mortezaei told

correspondent Ramy Inocencio.

Mortezaei himself lives in exile in Iraq, but is still in contact with his family.

People at a solidarity rally following the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in Iran after being arrested by vice squads.

© Christoph Reichwein/dpa

"After her arrest, she was tortured in the van and then at the police station for half an hour, after which she was hit on the head and collapsed," Mortezaei told

Mahsa Amini's death triggers protests in Iran: authorities reject allegations

Iranian authorities instead claimed that Amini died of a heart attack.

However, the 22-year-old's family emphasized that Amini was in good health.

An official coroner's report is still pending.

Mahsa Amini was arrested on September 13 by the Morality Police, who enforce Iran's strict interpretation of the Islamic dress code.

According to media reports, her hijab was too loose and her hair could be seen.

The young woman had been visiting the Iranian capital, Tehran, with her family.

Iran: Nationwide wave of protests with more fatalities

Amini's death sparked a nationwide wave of protests.

Women took to the streets, tore off their hijabs and burned them.

Since then, more people have died.

According to the Iranian state media, more than 40 people died in the protests, observers assume many more victims.

Hundreds were arrested.

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The situation in Iran also provoked reactions in other countries.

There were several solidarity rallies in Germany.

Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) called for sanctions against Iran.

"The attempt to suppress peaceful protests with even more deadly force must not go unanswered," said the politician to the

.

This is now being discussed at EU level.

(cheese)