<p>The death of Mahsa Amini last week after her arrest by Iran's morality police has sparked anger and anxiety among many women in the Islamic republic.</p>.<p>"I'm frightened," said Nazanin, a 23-year-old nurse from Tehran, who told AFP she is now far more careful about how she wears her headscarf to avoid run-ins with the police unit responsible for enforcing a strict Islamic dress code for women.</p>.<p>Amini, a Kurd, had been detained for allegedly wearing a hijab headscarf in an "improper" way, and died at a Tehran hospital after having spent three days in a coma.</p>.<p>Public anger has flared over her death, and at least six protesters have been killed in nationwide demonstrations, according to Iranian officials.</p>.<p>Several women questioned in the Iranian capital on Wednesday all asked to be identified by their first names only for safety reasons.</p>.<p>The behaviour of the morality police -- known formally as the Gasht-e Ershad or "Guidance Patrol" -- "isn't right", Nazanin said.</p>.<p>"They shouldn't confront people at all" or interfere with how women dress, she added.</p>.<p>"I don't understand why they do it," she said, insisting that "everyone respects the law".</p>.<p>"Hijab is a choice," said Mahtab, a 22-year-old make-up artist, wearing an orange headscarf outside her shop in an affluent neighbourhood in Tehran's north.</p>.<p>"It shouldn't be forced. I like to wear it... others prefer a chador," she added, referring to the conservative black full-body dress.</p>.<p>Mahtab is "afraid of seeing" the morality police, but said she hasn't changed "at all" how she dresses.</p>.<p>However, she said she wouldn't "dare" take part in the many demonstrations in the capital and more than a dozen other cities since Amini's death was announced last Friday, and she called the protesters "brave".</p>.<p>In Iran, women -- regardless of their faith -- are required to cover their hair, and the morality police bans them from wearing coats above the knee, tight trousers, bright colours or torn jeans.</p>.<p>"Wearing hijab shouldn't be something that is regulated by the law," said Reyhaneh, a 25-year-old student.</p>.<p>According to Mahtab, "they should let people choose, like in other countries".</p>.<p>Reyhaneh, too, hasn't changed how she dresses, but said she has grown more wary of the morality police, insisting that violence by officers should be banned.</p>.<p>Activists said Amini had suffered a fatal blow to the head, a claim denied by officials, who have announced an investigation.</p>.<p>"With this latest incident, people are no longer calling this unit Ghasht-e Ershad but Ghatl-e Ershad (Death Patrol)," she said.</p>.<p>"Wearing hijab is a personal question, and women have a basic right to dress however they want," Reyhaneh added.</p>
<p>The death of Mahsa Amini last week after her arrest by Iran's morality police has sparked anger and anxiety among many women in the Islamic republic.</p>.<p>"I'm frightened," said Nazanin, a 23-year-old nurse from Tehran, who told AFP she is now far more careful about how she wears her headscarf to avoid run-ins with the police unit responsible for enforcing a strict Islamic dress code for women.</p>.<p>Amini, a Kurd, had been detained for allegedly wearing a hijab headscarf in an "improper" way, and died at a Tehran hospital after having spent three days in a coma.</p>.<p>Public anger has flared over her death, and at least six protesters have been killed in nationwide demonstrations, according to Iranian officials.</p>.<p>Several women questioned in the Iranian capital on Wednesday all asked to be identified by their first names only for safety reasons.</p>.<p>The behaviour of the morality police -- known formally as the Gasht-e Ershad or "Guidance Patrol" -- "isn't right", Nazanin said.</p>.<p>"They shouldn't confront people at all" or interfere with how women dress, she added.</p>.<p>"I don't understand why they do it," she said, insisting that "everyone respects the law".</p>.<p>"Hijab is a choice," said Mahtab, a 22-year-old make-up artist, wearing an orange headscarf outside her shop in an affluent neighbourhood in Tehran's north.</p>.<p>"It shouldn't be forced. I like to wear it... others prefer a chador," she added, referring to the conservative black full-body dress.</p>.<p>Mahtab is "afraid of seeing" the morality police, but said she hasn't changed "at all" how she dresses.</p>.<p>However, she said she wouldn't "dare" take part in the many demonstrations in the capital and more than a dozen other cities since Amini's death was announced last Friday, and she called the protesters "brave".</p>.<p>In Iran, women -- regardless of their faith -- are required to cover their hair, and the morality police bans them from wearing coats above the knee, tight trousers, bright colours or torn jeans.</p>.<p>"Wearing hijab shouldn't be something that is regulated by the law," said Reyhaneh, a 25-year-old student.</p>.<p>According to Mahtab, "they should let people choose, like in other countries".</p>.<p>Reyhaneh, too, hasn't changed how she dresses, but said she has grown more wary of the morality police, insisting that violence by officers should be banned.</p>.<p>Activists said Amini had suffered a fatal blow to the head, a claim denied by officials, who have announced an investigation.</p>.<p>"With this latest incident, people are no longer calling this unit Ghasht-e Ershad but Ghatl-e Ershad (Death Patrol)," she said.</p>.<p>"Wearing hijab is a personal question, and women have a basic right to dress however they want," Reyhaneh added.</p>