HUNDREDS gathered across Europe on Saturday to mark the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, the Kurdish-Iranian woman who died in police custody in Iran last year.

The protests in Britain, France, Germany and Italy came as authorities in Iran sought to prevent the first anniversary of the September 16 death of Ms Amini from reigniting the protests that gripped the country last year. 

Ms Amini’s father was reportedly detained outside his home after the family indicated that they planned to gather at her grave for a traditional service of commemoration. 

A heavy police presence was reported in downtown Tehran and security forces were seen in western Iran, where the Kurdish minority staged large protests last year.

The Hengaw news agency reported a widespread general strike in Kurdish areas on Saturday. 

Human rights activists in Iran also reported the general strike. But there was no acknowledgement of the strike in state media.

Ms Amini died three days after she was arrested by the so-called morality police, allegedly for violating laws that require women to cover their hair in public. 

While authorities said that she suffered a heart attack, Ms Amini’s supporters said she was beaten by police and died as a result of her injuries.