Following her death, Najafi’s family faced immense pressure from Iranian authorities. They were reportedly forced to sign a statement declaring that she had died of natural causes, and her body was withheld for several days before being returned to them. Despite these challenges, her family honored her memory and her role in the protests.
The protests are the largest to sweep the country since demonstrations over fuel prices in 2019 when Reuters reported 1,500 people were killed in a crackdown on protesters – the bloodiest bout of internal unrest in the Islamic Republic’s history. Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody has sparked a wave of protest across Iran. The 22-year-old was arrested by Iran’s morality police for the way she wore her hijab. This is the story of how one woman’s tragic fate has led to an outpouring of anger on the streets.
