Mahsa Amini had 'gone to hell': Iran lawmaker under fire

Published August 17th, 2026 - 07:47 GMT
Iranian Mahsa Amini
A protestor holds a portrait of Iranian Mahsa Amini, who died in custody in September after her arrest by morality police in Tehran, during a rally in support of the demonstrators in Iran, at the Place de la Republique in Paris, on October 29, 2022. Photo by BEHROUZ MEHRI / AFP

ALBAWABA - An Iranian lawmaker is under fire for "inappropriate language" with the family of activist Mahsa Amini, the icon of the 2022 Iranian protests.

Mahsa Amini, 22, was detained by the morality police in Tehran for reportedly violating the country's dress code and wearing the hijab improperly. Mahsa was beaten up inside the police station; she was then hospitalized and died three days later, on September 16, 2022, triggering worldwide protests.

Protests erupted across Iran calling for women's rights and an end to the Islamic regime in Tehran. People cut their hair and burned their hijabs as a sign of protest, and "Women, Life, Freedom" became an official cry not only in Iran but also across the world in support of Mahsa Amini protesters.

Mahsa Amini

This photograph shows a placard during a march on the second anniversary of a protest movement sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, 22, in Paris on September 15, 2024. Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP

Mahsa Amini had 'gone to hell': Iran lawmaker rebuked

Iranian lawmaker Ahmad Aryaeinejad said earlier that Mahsa Amini had "gone to hell", but he backtracked what he said and offered an apology.

Aryaeinejad apologized to the family of Amini after using an offensive expression about her death on TV.

Aryaeinejad, the representative of Malayer in the parliament, said he used "inappropriate language" to refer to the Iranian activist, but it was not on purpose.

Amini's parents, Amjad Amini and Mojgan Eftekhari, condemned the lawmaker's comment. They said in a statement, "His insult does nothing to diminish our daughter’s worth or elevated standing."

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