Iranian Teenage Girl in Critical Condition After Confrontation Over Hijab Law
Plus: Ankara bomb attack, Iraqi Christian leaders demand international probe into deadly wedding fire, and Egyptian President el-Sisi announces bid for third term.
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Iranian Teenage Girl in Critical Condition After Confrontation Over Hijab Law
Armita Geravand, a teenage girl from Iran, is in critical condition at a hospital after reportedly falling into a coma following an alleged confrontation with agents in the Tehran metro for violating the hijab law.
This situation is reminiscent of Mahsa Amini's case, a 22-year-old woman who died in custody last year, sparking nationwide protests.
Authorities have denied allegations that Geravand went into a coma due to a clash with officers enforcing the Islamic dress code.
However, Iranian-Kurdish rights group Hengaw posted a photo of her unconscious in a Tehran hospital after the incident.
It has been reported that security forces have prohibited Geravand's parents from sharing her picture on social media or speaking to human rights organizations.
CCTV footage revealed Geravand and her two friends without the required hijab in the metro. Upon entering the cabin, one girl quickly retreated while another was dragged unconscious by passengers.
Rights groups on social media are demanding the release of footage from inside the cabin, alleging that her parents' statement was made under duress.
This incident comes two weeks after the first anniversary of Amini's death, which led to nationwide protests and international criticism of Iran's longstanding hijab policy and police brutality.
During the same week as the anniversary, Iran's parliament passed a new "hijab and chastity" bill outlining penalties for those, particularly women, who violate the mandatory dress code rules, making hijab law even stricter.
Read more on Reuters, Al Jazeera,
Ankara Bomb Attack
Two suicide attackers carried out an attack in front of Turkish government buildings in Ankara on Sunday, October 1. One attacker died in the blast, authorities killed the other, while two police officers were wounded.
A Kurdish militant group claimed responsibility. It was the first terrorist attack in the capital in years.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called it "the latest attempt" to terrorize Turks during a speech at the opening of a new parliamentary session.
The 'Brigade of Immortals,' linked to the PKK militant group, claimed responsibility, according to ANF News, close to the PKK.
The PKK, designated a terrorist organization, started an insurgency in southeast Turkey in 1984, resulting in over 40,000 deaths.
Following the attack, Turkey conducted air raids against PKK bases in northern Iraq. The defense ministry announced additional raids.
The attack's reasons and timing have raised questions. Some suggest a connection to domestic Turkish politics, including concerns about the prolonged imprisonment and isolation of PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan.
Read more on Reuters, Middle East Eye, France 24.
Iraqi Christian Leaders Demand International Probe into Deadly Wedding Fire
Iraqi Christian religious leaders are calling for an international probe into a recent tragic fire at a wedding ceremony that resulted in the loss of over 100 lives.
They have expressed dissatisfaction with the government's investigation, which attributed the fire to negligence and a lack of safety precautions.
This devastating incident is just one of the many challenges confronting Iraq's Christian minority, whose numbers have significantly dwindled over the past two decades.
This decline began prior to the Islamic State group's persecution of religious minorities in parts of Iraq in 2014. Even before that, Christians had been subjected to persecution and insecurity following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that removed Saddam Hussein from power. In 2003, the Christian population in Iraq stood at 1.5 million, but it has since dropped to an estimated 150,000, while Iraq's total population has exceeded 40 million.
Read more on AP News.
President el-Sisi Announces Bid for Third Term
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming December presidential elections, where he is considered the frontrunner.
This announcement comes at a time when Egypt is grappling with rising inflation and a growing national debt.
The presidential election in Egypt is scheduled for December 10-12, spanning three days, with a potential runoff on January 8-10 if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote.
While a few other politicians have declared their intention to run, none appear to pose a significant challenge to el-Sissi, who has been in power since 2014 and has faced criticism from Western nations regarding his government's human rights record.
Supporters of el-Sisi took to the streets in Cairo, demonstrating their endorsement with Egyptian flags. During a conference, several parliamentarians urged el-Sissi to run for re-election.
However, some dissenting voices emerged as videos circulated on social media, confirming protests in cities like Mersa Matruh and Menoufia, where demonstrators called for el-Sisi's resignation and symbolically burned or trampled on campaign banners.
Smaller protests also erupted in places like Ismailia, as well as near the Mersa Matruh General Hospital on Alexandria Street, Cairo.
Read more on AP News, Middle East Eye.
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My name is Dario Sabaghi, and I am a freelance journalist interested in international news focusing on the MENA region.
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Cover photo | vice.com