Iranian girl critical after alleged encounter over hijab -activists

Bangkok Post Group

An Iranian teenaged girl, Armita Geravand, is in critical condition in hospital, two prominent rights activists told Reuters on Wednesday (October 4), after falling into a coma following what they said was a confrontation with agents in the Tehran metro for violating the hijab law. - REUTERS

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00:00 A 16-year-old girl is in critical condition in Tehran after falling into a coma on Sunday

00:06 following a confrontation with agents on the metro for violating the hijab law.

00:12 That's according to two prominent rights activists, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity

00:18 due to the sensitivity of the matter.

00:20 CCTV footage shared by state news agency IRNA shows Armina Garavan without the mandatory

00:26 hijab.

00:27 She is accompanied by two female friends, walking towards the train.

00:31 Upon entering the cabin, one of the girls is seen immediately backing off and reaching

00:36 for the ground.

00:37 Another girl is then dragged unconscious from the cabin by passengers.

00:42 Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity of the footage.

00:45 Garavan's case is raising concerns she may face the same fate as Masa Amini.

00:51 The 22-year-old woman, whose death while in the custody of morality police sparked nationwide

00:56 protests.

00:57 Authorities denied the claims by rights groups.

01:00 In a televised interview, her parents said that their daughter had suffered a drop in

01:04 blood pressure, lost her balance and hit her head inside the metro cabin.

01:08 "I've seen the pictures of the subway, so I don't think what people say is accurate.

01:14 I've seen the subway's CCTV footage completely.

01:17 I saw how she fell and how her friends dragged her out.

01:20 There was nothing special, that they wanted to make something out of it.

01:24 I just appreciate them praying for my child's health."

01:28 Rights groups on social media have called on authorities to publish the footage from

01:32 inside the cabin, claiming that her parents' statement was made under duress.

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