The current protests - background information

Mahsa Amini, (22) was an Iranian woman from the Kurdish minority, was with her brother in Tehran when she was arrested on 13 September for what was perceived to be “improper” hijab. She fell into a coma shortly after collapsing at Vozara Detention Centre. Amini, who also goes by the Kurdish name Jhina, died three days later.

According to witness testimonies, Mahsa was beaten by the arresting officers in the police van and later at the police station. She was officially declared to have died at Kasra Hospital on September 16.

The first protests erupted in Iran on the 16th of September after news of her death broke out. On the 17th of September thousands attended her funeral.

Protests spread across the country with reports of women burning their hijab.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attacked positions in the Kurdish region of northern Iraq four times during the past few days, saying the target was “terrorist” groups that brought guns into the country to take advantage of the protests.

There have been several high-profile arrests of journalists since the protests broke out.

At least 83 people have been killed by security forces since the protests broke out (as at 29/9/22).

Iranian officials have also announced the arrests of more than 1,200 people.

IHR said that videos and death certificates it had obtained confirmed that live ammunition was being fired directly by security forces at protesters - something Iranian authorities have denied.