"Women! Life! Freedom!" These were the last words heard at Mahsa (Zhina) Amini's funeral on September 16th after an unimaginable human rights crime that took the life of a 22-year-old woman after she was brutally beaten by the Iran morality police after being detained for allegedly wearing a hijab headscarf in an "improper" way. Her death sparked outrage among the citizens of Iran and launched a wave of protests demanding justice for Mahsa (Zhina) Amini and protesting against the strict Islamic dress code that has now contributed to the death of a young woman. This is not the first time the Islamic dress code has been criticized since its installment during Iran's Islamic revolution in 1979. Since 2017 authorities have adopted stricter measures after dozens of women publicly took off their headscarves in a wave of protests, but the fate of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini escalated the situation to the point of no return.
In only a few days, the protests have spread to several cities as women and men are fighting side by side. Women are removing their hijab as a sign of protest while the men fight the police officers that attempt to contain the women from breaking the Islamic dress code. There have been reports of the police using unnecessary amounts of force. The Iranian state television announced that 17 protesters died, but the estimation could be higher. In hopes of gathering attention to the situation, Iranian women have utilized social media as a way to reach people globally, and they are posting videos of themselves burning their hijabs and cutting off their hair with the hashtag #Mahsaamini.
Despite these viral videos, the situation stays largely contained in Iran and fails to reach the general public. This is because the Iranian government has issued severe internet restrictions and blocked access to social media platforms like Whatsapp and Instagram to restrict the growing protest movement. These restrictions were put in place to limit communication and make it virtually impossible to document human rights violations in Iran. Internet access is essential for human rights work, including speaking freely against government policies. Therefore, the people in Iran are being robbed of this right and systematically silenced as they are prevented from making contact with the rest of the world. This enables Iranian authorities to inflict unnecessary force on Iranian protesters with minimal exposure.
Fighting for their rights, the Iranian people stand tall on the frontlines of a nationwide protest. Chanting the words "Women! Life! Freedom!" in the memory of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini, the woman whose unjust fate started a revelation. But while it started from the fate of one, this movement requires the actions of many because she couldn't finish it alone. No one can. No matter how strong her spirit and powerful her will, no one can nor should have to stand alone in the face of injustice. You can support their fight by being their voice and sharing their message.
How You Can Help
Spread the word about Iran through social media channels and post the latest information using the hashtag #Mahsaamini. Also, consider signing Amnesty International's petition to end the protest bloodshed in Iran here:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/petition/end-the-protest-bloodshed-in-iran/
You can also help by following and donating to the following non-profit organizations: Amnesty International Iran:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/iran/
Abdorrahman Boroumand Center:
