Hundreds Of Iranian Women Detained On Anniversary Of Amini's Death

Supporters of women's rights in Iran march on the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini during a protest in Washington, US, September 16, 2023.
Supporters of women's rights in Iran march on the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini during a protest in Washington, US, September 16, 2023.

At least 600 women have been arrested in Tehran on the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death on September 16.

Among this group, 130 individuals are presently being held in the quarantine wing of the notorious Gharchak (Qarchak) Prison south of Tehran, according to the Committee to Follow Up on the Status of Detainees.

Quoting the families of detainees, the committee said the majority of those arrested were released on bail upon their initial arrest by the police. Cases have been referred to the prosecutor's office, with hopes that they may secure their release on bail or bond.

The arrests took place across Iran. Javad Hashemi-Mehr, the political and security deputy of the governor of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province, reported that on the evening of September 16, 15 people, including 13 men and 2 women, were detained in Dehdasht alone.

In total, the committee has identified 118 detainees arrested between September 10 and 20. The regime's security forces, aiming to suppress the wave of protests that erupted last September following Mahsa Amini's death in police custody, intensified their pressure on activists and carried out numerous arrests, particularly in the days leading up to the anniversary of the protests.

The figures come as the wife of President Ebrahim Raisi, Jamileh Alamolhoda, gave a rare interview to US-based Newsweek claiming "women in Iran have not fought for their rights because they already enjoy their rights" while President Raisi himself claimed on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly this week that women in Iran have "unparalleled" rights. The two have been on a propaganda campaign during the visit to New York while the world watches.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has described the situation of women in Iran as “dire”.