Slogan 'Death to Khamenei' from Hijab Protester; Police Claim: 'Had Mental Illness'

As Armita Garavand, a girl who fell into a coma due to the actions of mandatory hijab enforcement agents, remains in critical condition, two individuals were arrested in Dezful on charges of 'assaulting a promoter of virtue.' The police chief attributed the deterioration of a woman in Tabriz after being beaten over hijab issues to 'mental illness.' Following the release of a video showing a woman in Tabriz becoming ill due to 'assault' for not adhering to mandatory hijab, the police chief of East Azerbaijan Province accused free media of 'exploitation,' claiming she was 'ill' and 'delusional.' According to the Mehr News Agency on Tuesday, October 16, the police statement alleged that the individual had 'a history of mental illness and was sent to medical facilities with the coordination of emergency personnel and family guidance.' This police claim comes as a viral video on social media showed a girl chanting 'Death to Khamenei' and 'Death to the Dictator.' Reports on social media indicated that a young woman in Tabriz, 'dressed optionally,' was 'shopping for sweets' when 'several government agents physically attacked her,' injuring her legs, after which she shouted against the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Citizen reports suggest that during this time, the agents 'hit her again' and 'after she lost consciousness, she was taken away by ambulance.' Some social media users have compared the attack on this young woman to the incident involving Armita Garavand and the death of Mahsa Amini while in custody of the morality police. The U.S. Special Envoy for Iran's office expressed shock and concern over reports of police attacks on this 16-year-old girl, stating, 'We are shocked and concerned by reports of police attacks on this 16-year-old girl.' The office added, 'We are monitoring her condition and stand with the brave people of Iran, working with the world to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its violations.' Michael McCaul, chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, also reacted to the attack on Armita Garavand, expressing disgust and likening it to the attack that led to Mahsa Amini's death a year ago. On another front, following an individual's intervention to enforce mandatory hijab on women at a beach park in Dezful, Ruhollah Garavandi, the police chief of this city in Khuzestan Province, announced on Sunday evening that two citizens were arrested for 'assaulting a promoter of virtue.' Garavandi stated that 'with the support of the judiciary for virtue promoters,' the police chief of Dezful 'will deal decisively with norm violators.' Civil resistance against mandatory hijab in Iran continues despite the pressure and repression from the Islamic Republic's forces. Gohar Eshghi, the mother of the late labor activist and blogger Sattar Beheshti, in an exclusive message to VOA while removing her mandatory hijab, referred to Armita Garavand's condition in a coma, stating, 'I have one life' and 'I will sacrifice it for Iran.'