Lawyer for Mahsa Amini, Symbol of Iranian Protest Movement, on Trial for Anti-Regime ‘Propaganda’

As Iranians prepare to mark the first anniversary of historic demonstrations against the regime in Iran and its “Morality Police,” the lawyer for the young Kurdish woman whose death in custody sparked the protests has himself gone on trial.

Iranian state media outlets reported on Wednesday that Saleh Nikbakht — the lawyer for the dead woman, Jina “Mahsa” Amini — had appeared in court charged with “propaganda against the system.”

Amini became an international cause célèbre following her death in a Tehran hospital on Sept. 16, 2022, after she was arrested and savagely beaten by officers of the “Morality Police” for allegedly wearing her hijab, or head covering, inappropriately. As news of her death spread, furious protests broke out in the Kurdish region where Amini was born and across the country. Attempts by the Iranian authorities to portray Amini’s death as the result of brain surgery she had as a child were roundly rejected, as world leaders expressed disgust at the manner of her death and many Iranians adopted her as a symbol of their “Women, Life, Freedom” revolution.

In the bloody crackdown that followed, more than 500 people were killed by security forces while over 22,000 were detained.

Ali Rezaei, a lawyer representing Nikbakht, said that the charges against his client pertained to interviews he gave to foreign and domestic media outlets about Amini’s ordeal. Speaking to the government daily Etemad, Rezaei urged Nikbakht’s acquittal, saying that his client had “only criticized the running of the country by the authorities.”

Separately, the Iranian authorities have warned students and academics on the country’s university campuses that there will be little tolerance for protests commemorating Amini’s fate as the school year starts.

Activists have expressed fear of a purge, with at least 10 professors reported to have been fired on Tuesday in a pre-emptive move.

One professor who was targeted told US-based broadcaster RFE/RL that he would continue to support student protests.

“During this era of repression and intimidation, I stood by the students,” the academic, who was not named, said. He emphasized that most “professors have no desire to involve themselves with the students’ issues.”

“This is the ugly story and sadness of Iran’s universities today,” the professor added. “Scientists, experts, and professors whose responsibility is to protect the independence of the university and preserve the dignity of the youth … why are they asleep?”

“Every day when I think about this fact, tears flow across my face and in my troubled heart,” he continued. “It’s really unfortunate.”

Iranian authorities have also arrested Mehdi Yarrahi, a popular singer whose latest single is a tribute to Amini. State media outlets said that Yarrahi had been detained on Monday for releasing an “illegal song” that includes the lyrics, “Take off your scarf, the sun is sinking/Don’t be afraid, my love, laugh, protest against tears.”

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