Video footage from Tehran captured the moment protesters rejoiced as the giant statue of Iran’s Supreme Leader ripped apart flames. A clip from the site of the protest shows masked activists cheering as the huge screen in the capital is shrouded in a mask of flames. The city’s streets are flooded with crowds of protesters as the country continues to fight the unrest following the death of a 22-year-old woman detained by police.
Masha Amini died three days after she was arrested by Iran’s vice squad for allegedly violating the country’s strict hijab laws.
After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, authorities imposed a dress code on the female population of Iran, requiring all women to wear a headscarf and loose-fitting clothing covering their figure in public.
Iran’s vice squad, which enforces the rule, has come under renewed scrutiny after Ms Amini was detained for allegedly appearing in public with what was visible under her headscarf.
The young woman fell into a coma in a detention center and died shortly after, leading to accusations that special police beat her after her arrest.
Police have vehemently denied reports that Ms Amini was subjected to physical violence during her detention.
Ms Amini’s death has sparked unrest across the country with a series of protests erupting in at least 50 cities and towns across the country.
Hengaw, an independent human rights organization, reported that 15 people were killed in the protest, which involved violent clashes between activists and the Iranian police.
During the unrest, women have been filmed burning their headscarves in an act of defiance against strict public modesty laws.
Crowds of angry protesters have been recorded in the town of Kerman shouting “death to the dictator” as a woman, sitting on a toolbox above the crowd, cut her hair.
In an effort to contain the protests, authorities have cut off internet access in parts of Tehran after videos of the unrest went viral.
Read more: Tens of thousands of women who support tolerant Islam murdered in Iran
The authorities’ report claims that Ms Amini died of sudden heart failure and denies any evidence of her mistreatment.
The woman’s father, Amjad Amini, told BBC Persian he had not been allowed to view his daughter’s body and had been denied access to the official autopsy report.
Mr Amini was only allowed to view the body after it was packed for burial, leaving only the head and feet visible. Despite the cover, he reported that there were visible bruises on his daughter’s feet.
Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi told a news conference at the UN General Assembly that authorities had contacted Ms Amini’s family to assure her relatives that the circumstances surrounding her death would be investigated.
He said: “I contacted her family at the very first opportunity and I assured them that we would steadfastly continue to investigate that incident.”
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