Government's Efforts to Control Information Flow About Armita Garavand by Blocking Access to Independent Media and Family

The incident involving Armita Garavand, a teenage girl who fell into a coma 'due to the actions of hijab enforcement officers' in the Tehran metro, has become the most significant news for independent media and social media, alongside widespread international reactions. This has prompted government media to scramble to provide a controlled narrative alongside security agencies' efforts to prevent any leaks of information outside government channels. In this context, the Islamic Republic's broadcasting newspaper has joined news agencies like Fars, Tasnim, IRNA, and the Hamshahri newspaper, reporting that 'after failing in several projects of creating martyrs in recent months, opposition media are trying to launch a new narrative regarding the distress of a schoolgirl at the Shahid metro station in Tehran.' The Jam-e Jam newspaper has claimed that the circumstances surrounding Armita's coma bear many similarities to the 'beginning of last autumn's riots,' stating that 'in both projects, they targeted girls who fell into a coma after becoming unwell and could not narrate the original event.' The Fars news agency, linked to security institutions, has also attempted to convince public opinion that the 'Islamic Republic's narrative' is the 'truth.' In this regard, Fars has written that 'the suspicion of a confrontation with Armita due to non-compliance with hijab rules inside the carriage and pushing by Armita's friend, who was with her on the day of the incident, has been denied.' In recent days, various reports have emerged indicating that Armita's family, classmates, and even teachers at her school are 'under pressure.' The parents of Armita Garavand reported that the head of the Ministry of Education's security department, during a visit to Armita's school, threatened teachers, emphasizing that any news or even photos of Armita shared on social media would result in severe penalties and immediate dismissal for the offenders. This channel also added, 'According to news from reliable sources, the head of the Tehran Education Department's security also warned Armita's classmates against any news reporting about this student’s condition.' Fars news agency, in its series of articles regarding this incident, has also stated that Armita Garavand was transferred to Fajr Hospital due to the lack of specialized and surgical departments in the nearby Moayeri and Shafa Yahyayan hospitals. This security-linked news agency has reported a security atmosphere inside and outside Fajr Hospital, the prohibition of passage on the first floor, and the cancellation of visits for other patients due to the 'military nature' of this hospital, denying any connection between Armita's hospitalization and the security situation of the hospital and its surrounding streets. The Hamshahri newspaper, affiliated with the Tehran municipality, has also published a video claiming that the interviewees were friends accompanying Armita Garavand. In this video, the girls claimed that 'everything was normal' on the day of the incident and that 'when Armita entered, she lost her balance and hit her head on the train platform.' The alleged friends of Armita, narrating the incident with complete calmness and without any concern or stress, believe that her fall was without the involvement of a third party. While government-affiliated media claim that a 'natural incident' leading to 'low blood pressure and fainting' occurred for Armita Garavand, on Tuesday, October 2, they prevented a reporter from the Shargh newspaper from covering the story at the hospital and detained this reporter for several hours. Reports indicate the presence of government suppression forces around Fajr Hospital, which is located in a completely military area of Tehran on Afseriyeh Highway. The incident involving Armita Garavand regarding the hijab coincides with the anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in the 'morality police' custody, which has drawn widespread reactions from global officials and media. The office of the U.S. Special Envoy for Iran expressed shock and concern over reports of police attacks on this 16-year-old girl on social media platform 'X,' stating, 'We are following news of her condition and stand with the brave people of Iran, working with the world to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its violations.' Annalena Baerbock, Germany's Foreign Minister, also wrote on social media X, 'A young woman in Iran is fighting for her life again. Just because she showed her hair in the metro. This is intolerable.' Hannah Neumann, a German representative in the European Parliament, also commented on Armita Garavand's situation on social media X, stating, 'Another young woman fell into a coma due to non-compliance with hijab rules. Another journalist was threatened for reporting on this. Another family member was arrested for speaking about it.' Sharif Mansour, the Middle East and North Africa Coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, stated in a statement that this organization is 'following with concern the news of the beating of a teenage girl for not wearing the government-approved hijab. This news recalls last year's events and the tragic fate of Mahsa Amini and her death at the hands of government agents.' He further emphasized, 'We urge the Iranian authorities not to restart their malicious censorship machine by detaining and harassing journalists covering this important incident.' Armita Garavand, born in February 2007, is a 16-year-old student in the 11th grade at the public vocational school 'Orouh al-Wathiqah' in Tehran's 11th district, who fell unconscious on October 1 while going to school at the Shahid metro station and was hospitalized at Fajr Hospital, affiliated with the Army Medical University.