Shout Armita’s Name
In the name of justice and freedom for Iran
Author’s note: the photo above appears unreal due to the use of filters applied by Armita herself. Unfortunately, the circumstances surrounding the availability of high-quality images of Armita are limited. Her family’s phones have been confiscated by the regime, resulting in the release of only a few low-quality photos, the origins of which remain unclear. Some of the photos in this story have been disseminated across various Iranian news channels without proper attribution, which is why they lack attribution here.
We are praying for the girl in this photo, Armita Garavand, who is only 16 years old. She was attacked by metro security forces on her way to school a few days ago because she didn’t wear the Islamic hijab. We pray for her survival, and we hope that her name can bring attention to her plight.
According to an anonymous person, Armita was pushed by the hijab guards, causing her head to hit the train platform, and now she is in a coma. However, the government’s version of events, as shown in edited videos, tells a different story. The official TV of the Islamic Republic of Iran claims that she fainted on the train, and they even forced her parents in front of the camera to confirm this.
If you’ve studied history, you might notice similarities between the actions of dictators and the situations in their countries. Forced confessions, officials exaggerating about the country’s power, wealth, stability, security, and citizens’ satisfaction — these are all common tactics. We are not the only nation suffering from oppression today, but sometimes all we can do is repeat the names of those suffering in these oppressive conditions to the world.
Today, it’s Armita Garavand’s turn. Do you remember Mahsa/Jina Amini’s story? A year ago, we mourned and expressed our anger over Mahsa’s death. She was arrested, tortured, and killed by the hijab guards because her headscarf was not worn correctly.
Do you know about the journalist who first reported this news in Iran, Niloofar Hamedi? She has been in prison for over a year now, just for doing her job. Another journalist who went to the hospital to cover Armita’s story was arrested and later released. No report was ever published by her. We know she has been threatened into silence because we, all the people inside Iran, are forced into silence, suffocated, and oppressed every day.
Have you seen images of brave women across Iran going headscarfless in the media over the past year? The fate of Mahsa Amini, Armita, and countless others who remain unheard of due to fear and repression is not far from these brave freedom fighters. Life under the banner of cruelty and brutality means facing the possibility of arrest or death every day.
Shout Armita’s name. Let the world hear our voices, and let it be a step towards holding dictators accountable. If dictators are to answer to the free world, if they can’t profit from their oil and gas while causing suffering to their people, if they can’t evade laws or seek treatment and entertainment in free countries while killing people, they cannot stay in power forever. Isolate our dictators. Shout Armita’s name.
#Womanlifefreedom
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