Following countrywide demonstrations against the establishment spearheaded by women, Iran increased surveillance following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police detention two years prior for reportedly failing to wear her hijab appropriately.
Note: There are graphic details of violence in the article that follows. The identities of certain people have been protected by changing their names.
Alef shared a picture of her hair flowing freely in public on social media, following the lead of many other women who were inspired by the protests. It was just a small gesture of support for the movement opposing the requirement that women wear the hijab.
“I wasn’t concerned enough to conceal my identity or whereabouts.”
However, Alef was taken into custody once the authorities, who were attempting to put an end to the demonstrations, saw the photo.
She claims that after being shackled, blindfolded, and brought to an unidentified location, she was kept in solitary confinement for about two weeks. She too had several interrogations.
She claims that during one interrogation, the inquisitors attempted to coerce her into making a confession. She was forced to provide her phone to masked guards, who then looked through her pictures and posts on social media. Photos revealed that she had taken part in demonstrations and that security personnel had shot her with pellet guns. .
