Iranian protests over death of women in police custody enter 4th week
Tehran, Oct 8 (EFE).- Fresh protests took place in Iran on Saturday as a backlash against the death of a young Kurdish woman in police custody following her arrest for reportedly breaking the country’s strict religious dress code entered its fourth week.
The start of a new week in Iran — where the weekend falls on Thursday and Friday — got underway with calls to protest led by activists and university students.
In the capital, students, including some women without headscarves, gathered around the prestigious Sharif University of Technology to shout protest slogans amid a strong security presence.
Police used tear gas as protesters argued with agents deployed to the demonstration.
A number of shots were also heard, but their origin was not clear.
The Tehran university was last week the scene of clashes between security forces and students, prompting the education center to move all classes online.
Protests were also reported in Shiraz, Esfahan and Kerman.
Clashes were particularly violence in Kurdish regions of the country, where Mahsa Amini was from.
Amini died at the age of 22 on September 16, days after she was arrested by the so-called morality police for allegedly not wearing her headscarf correctly.
Headscarves and modest dress have been obligatory for women in Iran since 1983, shortly after the Islamic Revolution.
Iranian authorities said an autopsy showed Amini had died of an underlying illness and not as a result of police violence.
According to Iranian state media, 41 people have died in the unrest so far, although NGOs believe the real figure to be much higher. EFE
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