Indictment Issued in Aida Shakarmeh Case to Criminal Court

The case of “Aida Shakarmeh,” sister of “Nika,” has been referred to criminal court for issuance of an indictment.

“Nika Shakarmeh,” a 17-year-old from Khorramabad, lost her life in nationwide protests in 1401 (2022) in Tehran. Behesht Zahra Cemetery in Tehran, after Nika Shakarmeh’s burial, stated the cause of death as “multiple injuries resulting from blunt force trauma.”

“Aida Shakarmeh,” Nika’s sister, was arrested on Wednesday, 29 Farvardin for failing to comply with mandatory hijab requirements. Nasrin Shakarmeh, Aida’s mother, wrote on her Instagram page on 30 Farvardin: “Yesterday, my daughter Aida was arrested by Tehran’s moral police for not wearing a mandatory hijab and remains in custody.”

After her arrest, Aida Shakarmeh remained in custody until 4 Ordibehesht, when she was released from Ray City Prison after posting bail. Her case has now been referred to Branch 1030 of Tehran’s Criminal Court 2 with the issuance of an indictment. Reza Shafakhah, Aida Shakarmeh’s defense lawyer, announced regarding her case: “My client’s case has been referred with the issuance of an indictment under the charges of ‘incitement to corruption, lewdness and disobedience to officials’ to Branch 1030 of Tehran Criminal Court 2, and will be heard on 4 Tir of the current year.”

Aida Shakarmeh, like other women in Iran, became a victim of a new plan called “Noor,” a plan adopted by Islamic Republic authorities to combat women not wearing hijab and began on 25 Farvardin of the current year. Abbas Ali Mohammadian, the police commander of greater Tehran, also announced that the plan had been implemented on all streets and public places, stating the reason for implementing this plan as “compliance with law” and “the demand of religious people.”

Following the implementation of this plan, many women wrote on social media about the harsh treatment of government forces toward women in enforcing mandatory hijab, and daily the number of videos released documenting violent and insulting conduct by government agents toward women continues to increase.