An Iranian mother was left paralyzed after being shot by police in Iran for allegedly violating the country’s strict hijab regulations. 

The incident occurred when police attempted to pull over 31-year-old Arezoo Badri who was driving home with her sister. After she reportedly refused to stop, officers opened fire, ultimately leaving her severely injured. According to sources, police initially aimed at the car’s tires before targeting Badri directly. A bullet struck her lung and severely damaged her spinal cord. 

"She is paralyzed from the waist down, and doctors have said it will take months to determine whether she will be permanently paraplegic or not,” a source close to the situation told the BBC.

Colonel Ahmed Amini, the police chief in Noor, stated that under Iranian law, the use of firearms in such circumstances is permitted.

Badri was initially treated at a hospital in Sari for lung surgery before being transferred to Tehran for further care. The bullet was removed after 10 days, and she remains under intensive care. Her family has been allowed brief visits, but strict security measures prohibit them from taking photos or videos.

This incident comes amid heightened enforcement of Iran’s hijab laws. The Iranian law has been in effect since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Iranian authorities have recently announced increased measures to ensure compliance, including the use of CCTV cameras to identify female drivers not covering their heads and confiscating vehicles carrying passengers who are not wearing hijabs.

The strict enforcement of hijab laws has been a source of global controversy, particularly following the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, who died after being detained and allegedly beaten by Iran's morality police for wearing her hijab "improperly." This incident sparked widespread protests and condemnation both within Iran and internationally.