TEHRAN: The death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini was caused by illness rather than blows or beatings, said an official medical report published on Friday, three weeks after she died in custody.

Iran’s forensic organisation said “Mahsa Amini’s death was not caused by blows to the head and vital organs and limbs of the body”, in its report published on state television.

Her death was related to “surgery for a brain tumour at the age of eight”, the same source said, adding that the report included CT scans of the brain and lungs, an autopsy and pathological tests.

Amini, 22, died on Sept 16, three days after falling into a coma following her arrest in Tehran by the morality police for allegedly breaching the country’s strict dress code for women.

The street violence that ensued has led to dozens of deaths — mostly of protesters but also members of the security forces — and hundreds of arrests.

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2022