Senior U.S. Congressman Calls Attack on Armita Garavand Similar to Killing of Mahsa Amini

Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, reacted to the attack on Armita Garavand in a tweet, expressing disgust and likening it to the attack that led to the death of Mahsa Amini a year ago. McCaul wrote on the official account of the House Foreign Affairs Committee: 'It is disgusting that the Islamic Republic's police once again assaulted a young girl for not adhering to the mandatory hijab, and this is a repeat of the attack that led to the death of Mahsa Amini. The people of Iran deserve freedom.' Armita Garavand is a junior student at the 'Oruvat al-Vathiqa' public high school in District 11 of Tehran, who became unconscious on October 1 while returning from school and was hospitalized at Fajr Hospital, affiliated with the Army Medical University. Some reports indicate that government metro agents known as 'hijab enforcers,' an initiative by the Tehran municipality, pushed this teenage girl for not wearing a hijab, causing her to fall and hit her head on a pole, leading to her coma. Four days after the incident involving 16-year-old Armita Garavand in Tehran and with no news about her health status, the British newspaper 'The Guardian' published statements from two witnesses regarding the confrontation with a female hijab enforcer. According to these witnesses, as soon as Armita entered the metro car, a female hijab enforcer began arguing with her because Armita, a 16-year-old girl, was not wearing a headscarf. One witness stated: 'Shortly after Armita entered the metro car, a hijab enforcer wearing a chador shouted at her, asking why she was not covering her hair.' The witness reported that Armita replied: 'Am I asking you to take off your scarf? Why are you asking me to wear one?' According to this witness, their argument escalated into violence, and the hijab enforcer physically attacked Armita, pushing her hard. Another witness said that Armita was still conscious when she fell to the ground. In recent days, state media have claimed that the reason for Armita Garavand's injury and her transfer to the hospital was 'low blood pressure,' attempting to promote this narrative as the dominant one through various techniques. Hamed Ayenehvand, a journalist, stated in an interview with VOA's News Hour: 'State media deny the beating of Armita inside the metro, but reports from the security atmosphere of the hospital where she is being treated indicate that the regime is trying to obscure the truth and prevent accurate news from spreading.' A source informed VOA about the security pressures on Armita Garavand's family and friends. A banner in support of Armita Garavand in Karaj read: 'Armita Garavand is another Mahsa.' The senior U.S. official reacted to reports of the 'brutal attack' by a hijab enforcer on Armita Garavand, stating: 'We are horrified.' Two eyewitnesses revealed details of the 'physical attack' by the hijab enforcer on Armita Garavand. The government is attempting to control the flow of information about Armita Garavand by blocking independent media access to the hospital and her family. Fajr Hospital is reportedly under 'siege by government forces'; Hengaw reported that Armita Garavand's mother has been arrested. The government continues its 'repetitive scenarios,' trying to control the flow of information about Armita Garavand. Armita is in a coma; Ahmad Garavand stated: 'I have no information about her condition'; state media referred to it as 'Project Mahsa 2.'