Title: Leading Human Rights Lawyer Arrested in Iran After Attending Funeral of Teenage Girl
In a distressing turn of events, prominent human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh has been detained by Iranian authorities following her attendance at the funeral of a teenage girl who tragically passed away after sustaining injuries on Tehran’s Metro. Sotoudeh’s arrest was made in connection to her alleged violation of Iran’s mandatory headscarf law.
The teenager, identified as Armita Geravanad, was also not wearing a headscarf at the time she was injured. Sotoudeh, known for her advocacy on human rights issues, condemned Geravanad’s death as “another state murder.” The funeral took place on Sunday morning, drawing mourners seeking justice for the late teenager.
Geravanad had been in a coma for several weeks, and her injury followed the death of another young woman, Mahsa Amini, who had also faced detainment for not wearing a headscarf. The details surrounding Geravanad’s injury remain unclear, and authorities have not yet released any video footage from inside the train where the incident occurred.
Activists outside of Iran suspect that Geravanad may have been pushed or attacked due to her choice not to wear the hijab, a sentiment echoed by those calling for an independent investigation by the United Nations fact-finding mission on Iran.
This is not the first time Sotoudeh has found herself in trouble with Iranian authorities. In 2018, she was arrested and subsequently sentenced to 38 years in prison and 148 lashes. After her release in 2020, details about the circumstances surrounding her freedom remained undisclosed.
Sotoudeh’s work has been widely recognized for her defense of activists, opposition politicians, and women prosecuted for removing their headscarves. Despite facing chronic health issues, including gastrointestinal and foot problems, she has remained steadfast in her advocacy efforts, even at great personal risk.
The arrest of Nasrin Sotoudeh sends shockwaves through both human rights circles and the Iranian population, raising concerns about freedom of expression and the protection of human rights in the country. As news of this incident continues to spread, activists and supporters worldwide strive for justice and accountability for the perpetrators involved in the tragic deaths of Armita Geravanad and Mahsa Amini.
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