Prosecutor In Iran Summons 54 Lawyers Who Supported Hijab Victim

Prosecutors in western Iran have summoned 54 attorneys to receive a warning because they supported the family of Mahsa Amini who was killed last year in the custody of hijab police.

Prosecutors in Bukan, a city in West Azarbaijan province have said in their summons that the attorneys published social media posts, including texts and photos “violating public chastity principles.” It is not clear how that accusation related to attorneys who last September voiced support for Amini’s family.

Hengaw human rights group said in a report that the attorneys have been under pressure by the prosecutor’s office since last year when they issued their statement.

As the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's killing approaches, Iranian regime officials are concerned that fresh popular protests can break out and have launched measures to intimidate those who have influence in society.

Mahsa Amini was received fatal head injuries immediately after being detained for her “improper hijab” in September 2022. A young Kurdish-Iranian woman who traveled to Tehran with her family members was in coma for three days in the hospital and died on September 16. Immediately protests broke out in the capital and tens of other cities and towns.

The “Mahsa revolution” as it came to be known represented the most serious challenge to the clerical regime and its legitimacy. During nearly five months of street protests the regime killed more than 500 civilians and jailed well over 20,000 people.