This comes as demonstrators in the Iranian capital and 14 other cities have blocked streets, thrown stones at security forces and set fire to police vehicles. The official death toll from popular unrest shot up to 17 on Thursday as Raisi vowed that Amini’s death would be investigated. She died in a Tehran hospital on September 16 after falling into a coma following her arrest by the “morality police” which enforces the wearing of the veil.
Najafi’s death has cemented her status as a martyr in the ongoing struggle for women’s rights and freedoms in Iran. Her image, often referred to as the “girl with the ponytail,” has been featured in murals, posters, and social media campaigns worldwide. She embodies the courage and resilience of countless individuals fighting against oppression.
