Asra Panahi Beaten To Death For Refusing To Sing Pro-Regime Anthem

Iranian authorities were accused again of brutally beating a teenage girl to death for refusing to sing a pro-regime song.

A 16-year-old, Asra Panahi, died after a raid at Shahed Girls’ High School last Thursday when security forces asked students to sing a hymn in honor of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to The Guardian.

When a group of female students refused, authorities beat them and were hospitalized, said the Coordination Council of Iranian Teachers’ Associations. Panahi later died from her injuries.

Panahi’s death is the latest to spark outrage across the country in the fifth week of unrest and violence sparked by the 22-year-old Mahsa Amini murder, who was in police custody after being arrested for “inappropriate attire.” The Iranian authorities denied responsibility for Panahi’s death, and her uncle appeared on state television claiming that she had died of congenital heart disease.

Earlier this month, reports were released that a 16-year-old girl named Sarina Esmailzadeh was beaten to death by Iran’s security forces on Sept 21st in Mehra Shahr, Karaj. Esmailzadeh was struck multiple times in the head with batons while protesting the murder of Mahsa Amini. Her mother committed suicide a few days after receiving the tragic news about her daughter.

In September, Hananeh Kian, a 23-year-old woman, was shot and killed by Iranian security forces for protesting the murder of Mahsa Amini. Kian was reportedly supposed to be married this month.

Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi, signed an order to enforce a list of restrictions on women, which included surveillance cameras to monitor and fine unveiled women or refer them for “counseling.” Iran has taken the choice away from women to dress how they want and are enforcing its rules to the point of death.