Mahsa Amini’s grave vandalized, lawyer for her family and activists say

His death sparked widespread protests against Iranian political and religious leaders. The tomb of the young Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini was vandalized, according to the lawyer for her family and activists, Wednesday May 24.

Mahsa Amini, 22, died in September 2022 after being arrested by Tehran vice police. The police accused her of having violated the strict dress code, in particular imposing on women the wearing of the veil in the Islamic Republic. Demonstrations after his death had challenged the Islamic system that has ruled Iran since the 1979 revolution. However, they have waned in amplitude in recent months, although actions continue more sporadically.

The young woman is buried in her hometown of Saqez, in the Iranian province of Kurdistan. According to activists, the authorities are determined to prevent any public gatherings in his memory in this region.

The construction of a protection prevented, according to the lawyer

The France-based Kurdistan Human Rights Network (KHRN) said his grave was attacked on the morning of May 21. “Unfortunately, on Sunday morning, people we already know who have done the same in the past attacked the grave of Zhina Mahsa Amini”, family lawyer Saleh Nikbakht said in a statement. He did not specify who these individuals were. The lawyer added that the authorities had intervened before to prevent the construction of a protective canopy over the tomb.

According to the Norwegian NGO Iran Human Rights (IHR), the repression of the demonstrations left more than 500 dead. Iran has also hanged seven men in cases related to protests.