Sister of Nika Shakarami, Killed in Iran Protests, Arrested for Not Covering Hair

Aida Shakarami, the 22-year-old sister of Nika Shakarami, a 16-year-old girl killed during the 2022 Iranian protests, has been arrested by Tehran's morality police for allegedly not covering her hair, according to her mother's Instagram post. The location of Aida's detention and the specific allegations against her are currently undisclosed.

Nika Shakarami was tragically killed on September 21, 2022, during protests in Tehran. She was a prominent figure in the protests that erupted in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody after being arrested for allegedly violating the country's strict hijab rules. Nika disappeared on September 20, 2022, during a street protest in Tehran, and her family later learned that she had been "thrown" from a multi-story building near her home.

Nasrin Shakarami, Nika's mother, has denounced the state television report in which her family was forced to reject claims that security forces killed Nika. The authorities claimed that Nika had committed suicide, but her family has repeatedly denied these claims and stated that she was killed as a result of repeated blows to her head. Since Nika's murder, the Shakarami family has been persistently targeted with threats from authorities, and several members of the family have been detained.

Why this matters: Aida Shakarami's arrest highlights the continued crackdown on dissent and the enforcement of strict dress codes by Iranian authorities in the aftermath of the protests. The arrest is the latest incident in the Iranian regime's crackdown on women for defying the country's mandatory Islamic hijab laws.

Nika Shakarami became a symbol of the "Woman Life Freedom" protest movement in Iran, which erupted in response to the death of Mahsa Amini. The Iranian government has cracked down on the protests, with the UN's fact-finding mission reporting that as many as 551 protesters were killed by security forces, mostly by gunfire. The government has also imposed severe punishments, including up to 10 years in prison and flogging, for violations of the hijab laws.

The UN's fact-finding mission has reported that the violent repression of peaceful protests and discrimination against women and girls have led to serious human rights violations that amount to crimes against humanity. The arrest of Aida Shakarami, who is a member of the "Grieving Families" group according to Hengaw, an independent organization that covers human rights violations in Kurdistan and across Iran, underscores the ongoing targeting of activists and their families by Iranian authorities.

Key Takeaways

• Aida Shakarami, sister of slain protester Nika, arrested for hijab violation.
• Nika Shakarami, 16, killed during 2022 Iranian protests; family denies suicide claim.
• Iranian authorities cracking down on dissent and enforcing strict dress codes.
• UN reports violent repression of protests and discrimination against women as crimes against humanity.
• Arrest of Aida Shakarami highlights ongoing targeting of activists and their families by Iranian authorities.