Iran says Mahsa Amini died of illness rather than ‘blows’, as protests rage on
- The country’s Forensic Organisation says the young woman’s death was related to ‘surgery for a brain tumour at the age of eight’
- Amini’s death soon after her arrest by the morality police trigged a huge wave of demonstrations in which dozens of protesters have been killed
Iran said on Friday an investigation into the death in custody of Mahsa Amini found she lost her life to illness rather than reported beatings that sparked three weeks of bloody protests.
Amini, 22, died on September 16, three days after falling into a coma following her arrest in Tehran by the morality police for allegedly breaching the Islamic republic’s strict dress code for women.
Anger over her death has triggered the biggest wave of protests to rock Iran in almost three years and a crackdown that has killed dozens of protesters and seen scores arrested.
Despite security personnel using lethal force, the women-led protests have continued for 21 consecutive nights.
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Schoolgirls without headscarves chase male official from campus as protests continue in Iran
Iran’s Forensic Organisation said on Friday that “Mahsa Amini’s death was not caused by blows to the head and vital organs and limbs of the body”.