In Iran, the demonstrations began on September 16, the date of the death of Mahsa Amini arrested three days earlier in Tehran for “inappropriate wearing of clothes”. The young woman, who died in detention after having “badly worn” her veil, has become the face of a protest in a country where women are watched and coerced.
On Sunday, the death of another young woman caused a new stir in Iran. Hadis Najafi was shot by police six times in the head, neck and chest. A video of the 20-year-old tying her hair before going to protest has gone viral online. It dates from last Thursday, as did its execution by Iranian security forces a little later.
“A real heroine”
It was not until Sunday that the Iranian journalist, Masih Alinejad, who spoke with the victim’s sister, learned and disseminated the information of his death, causing a new wave of emotion ten days after Mahsa’s death. Amini.
“She must become another symbol like Mahsa Amini because she did not remain silent in the face of tyranny. She was killed for protesting Mahsa’s brutal death. I call on the world to also be the voice of Hadis Najafi. A real heroine,” said the Iranian journalist, whose comments were reported by our colleagues at West France.
Online tributes
“Hadis was a girl with a big heart who loved to dance,” Hadis’ sister Najafi told the Iranian journalist. “This young woman was called Hadis Najafi, she was 20 years old. She was killed by Iranian regime police last night. Support for Iranian men and women who fight courageously, sometimes until death, to defend freedom and democracy,” reacted former French President François Hollande.
On social networks, many people pay tribute to her by drawing her gesture or by reproducing it, like her, with her back to the camera.