Iran | Five people died in protests in Iran triggered by the death of a Kurdish woman

Five one person has been killed in the Kurdish region of Iran on Monday after the country’s security forces opened fire in several places during the protests triggered by the case of a woman who died in police custody, news agency Reuters tells.

A 22-year-old from the Kurdistan province of Iran Mahsa Amini fell into a coma and died after being arrested by morality police in Tehran last week for violating the country’s strict hijab rules. Several parties have speculated that Amini died as a result of the beating.

The incident triggered protests in many areas, including the capital.

At demonstrations of the people killed, two died after security forces opened fire in Saqez, Amin’s hometown, the Hengaw human rights group said on Twitter. Two others died in Divandarreh and the fifth in Dehgolan, also in the Kurdish region. Reuters has not been able to confirm Hengaw’s information.

There has been no official confirmation of the deaths that occurred during the demonstrations. According to Reuters, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that protests in several cities had been “restricted” and broken up by the police.

State television said several protesters had been arrested but there had been no deaths.

Amin’s the death has shocked and outraged the Middle East region. The Persian hashtag bearing his name has been used almost two million times on Twitter.

The Iranian police have denied the allegations of abuse, and said that she fell ill while “being trained” at the morality police station with other detained women.

Earlier, the police said that Amini had suffered a heart attack. His relatives have denied that he had a heart condition or other health problems. According to Amin’s father, he had bruises on his legs.

Demonstrations have been strongest in Kurdish areas. According to Hengaw, 75 people were injured in Monday’s protests.

Amin’s death has been condemned internationally. The spokesperson for the White House characterized the incident as a “horrific and gross violation of human rights”. France condemned Amin’s arrest and “the violence that led to his death”.

After the 1979 revolution, Islamic Sharia law was introduced in Iran, requiring women to cover their hair and wear long, loose clothing to hide their bodies. Violations can lead to public reprimands, fines or arrest.