Stories
Iranian student Najmeh Amini sentenced to death for blasphemy, sparking memories of Mahsa Amini.
- •Twenty-three-year-old accounting student Najmeh Amini has been sentenced to death in Iran on charges of blasphemy.
- •Najmeh was arrested from Mashhad during the anti-government protests that took place in January.
- •Iran's cyber police monitored Najmeh's social media activities and accused her of making offensive comments against religious figures.
- •The case of Najmeh Amini has immediately brought back global memories of Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody in 2022.
- •Mahsa Amini's death for not wearing a hijab properly had sparked massive protests worldwide, including in Banaras, India.
Key Questions Answered
Najmeh Amini is a 23-year-old accounting student and social media user from Mashhad who was arrested in January during anti-government protests. She was sentenced to death after Iran's cyber police accused her of making offensive remarks against religious figures, constituting blasphemy.
Despite sharing the same surname, Najmeh Amini and Mahsa Amini have no mutual family relation, but both of their fates are tied to Iran and tragic deaths. While Najmeh was sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy, Mahsa died in police custody in 2022 after being arrested for improperly wearing her hijab.
Mahsa Amini's death in police custody caused a global uproar, leading women worldwide and in Varanasi, India, to take to the streets in protest against strict hijab rules and state restrictions on women in Iran. The incident sparked widespread international debate over human rights and women's freedom.
