Article by Ayden Arya ('23)
On September 13th, Mahsa Amini, an Iranian citizen, was arrested in Tehran, Iran, for violating laws regarding women properly covering their hair. While detained, she was beaten by officers and struck in the head. She later collapsed because of a heart attack, which led to her death.
Iran’s government has imposed laws that force citizens to follow the morality guidelines of the Islamic religion. They have installed a morality police to ensure that women keep modesty rules like wearing a proper hijab. This is the same institution that arrested and caused the death of Mahsa Amini.
Amini’s story has caused an uproar in Iranian citizens who are enraged by this abuse of government power. Citizens are calling for more freedoms and an overturn of the government in the form of large protests. Women have been leading protests and demanding the right to not cover their hair. They have created chants such as “Women, life, freedom!” and have made public statements by burning hijabs and cutting their hair. In the past, Iranian forces were able to swiftly and brutally end protests, but on such a large scale as this, they are having trouble.
This revolution has spread worldwide and has gained support from thousands of people. Protests have formed in the streets of many countries in solidarity with Iranian women. It has been rumored that over 200 people have been killed by Iranian security forces in the protests. While the Iranian government has denied this, videos of security forces firing into crowds have surfaced.
These incidents have caused nations to take action against Iran. The United Nations is hoping to remove the Iran delegation from the U.N.’s Women’s Rights Agency. Though women’s rights seem like such an obvious requirement for governments to protect, Iran is a clear example that the fight is not over. Iranian women are taking a stand, fighting against the oppression inflicted on them. Their call for reform is a call for freedom.
Comments