Iran has entered its seventh week of protests following the death of Mahsa Amini on September 16.
The 22-year-old was arrested by The Guidance Patrol, the religious morality police in the country, for not wearing a hijab in accordance with government standards.
Her brother, whom she had been in the company of at the time of her arrest, was told that she had a heart attack and a brain seizure at the police station, and had been taken to hospital.
Two hours after her arrest, she was taken to Kasra Hospital in Tehran, where she slipped into a coma and tragically died in the intensive care unit later that day.
Eyewitnesses said Mahsa had been beaten by police while being transferred to the police station shortly after her arrest, per the BBC.
Mahsa’s death sparked outrage amongst the Iranian population, which prompted the beginning of a series of protests against the government.
In response to the protests, the Iranian government enforced regional shutdowns of internet access; later, a widespread internet blackout was implemented along with nationwide restrictions on social media.
Authorities in Iran are continuing to violently crush protests in Iran. pic.twitter.com/MbFOecYd5Q
— Amnesty International USA (@amnestyusa) November 2, 2022
Some of the Iranian population began staging counter protests in support of the government, calling for anti-government protesters to be executed, and transferring the blame to foreign countries, referring to them as “Israel’s soldiers” and chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel”.
On October 3, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenel broke his silence on the matter, dismissing the political unrest as “riots” and continuing the narrative of shifting the blame towards foreign countries.
According to CNN, Iran are set to hold public trials against the approximately 1,000 people who have been charged for their alleged involvement in nationwide protests.
Iranian schoolgirls and boys knock turbans off clerics as part of anti regime protests as mass protests continue throughout #Iran #IranRevoIution #opiran
— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) November 2, 2022
As of October 28, the death toll has risen to over 400, as a direct result of the attempted repression of the protests.
The Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) have called for Iran to be excluded from the World Cup in Qatar, which is set to kick off on November 20.
A statement on the UAF’s official website read: “Taking into account media information about systematic human rights violations in Iran, which may violate the principles and norms of the FIFA Statutes, taking into account the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 regarding the imposition of sanctions on Iran and the possible involvement of Iran in the military aggression of Russia against Ukraine, (the executive committee of the Ukrainian football federation has decided) to make a request to the FIFA to consider excluding the Iranian national team from the 2022 FIFA World Cup.”
Prior to Ukraine’s plea, a host of Iranian sports personalities called on FIFA to ban the country from the competition, citing that the failure to allow women to attend matches in the country breached FIFA’s own articles.
Mahsa’s death has sparked widespread uproar on social media among the wider, global population.
On September 24, the hashtag #MahsaAmini, along with its equivalent in Persian, broke the Twitter record with more than 80 million tweets.
Some women have posted videos on social media of themselves cutting their hair in protest against the government.
During an art performance in solidarity with the people of Iran, an indigenous PhD student at Queen’s university cut her hair. In indigenous cultures, cutting hair signifies profound grief, mourning a traumatic event or loss#MahsaAmini#IranProtests2022 #Oplran #مهسا_امینی pic.twitter.com/stOS7ObrQY
— Donya Hayati (@DonyaHayati) October 25, 2022
A host of celebrities have spoken out on social media about the death of Mahsa, sharing their support for the people of Iran who are fighting for freedom.
Angelina Jolie wrote: “Respect to the brave, defiant, fearless women of Iran. All those who have survived and resisted for decades, those taking to the streets today, and Mahsa Amini and all young Iranians like her.”
“Women don’t need their morals policed, their minds re-educated, or their bodies controlled. They need freedom to live and breathe without violence or threats. To the women of Iran, we see you.”
Jessica Chastain tweeted: “#MahsaAmini is an Iranian woman who was beaten to death last week in a ‘re-education center’ for not wearing her hijab correctly. Her death lead to thousands of Iranians taking to the streets, demanding an end to violence and discrimination against women.”
View this post on Instagram
Bella Hadid wrote: “#MahsaAmini Just wow… 💔 Rest in Peace #MahsaAmini You did not deserve this. Sending blessings to her family and loved one..”
Hilary Clinton tweeted: “Iranians are protesting for their basic human rights in the aftermath of the horrific death of Mahsa Zhina Amini. Iranians deserve to live free from violence and intimidation. The world is watching.”
Speaking on Twitter Live, Dua Lipa said: “The images of women protesting in the streets by cutting their hair and burning their hijabs is one of the most powerful and inspiring things I’ve seen for many years. To any listeners in Iran or from Iran – we see you, we hear you and we stand in solidarity with you.”
Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders tweeted: “The Iranian people, led by young women, are demonstrating for their freedom and for a better life. The government has responded by killing dozens of protesters. I call upon the Iranian government to address the needs of their citizens, not kill them.”
dua lipa used her platform to talk about the current situation in iran “We see you, we hear you and we stand in solidatiry with you. Your struggle reminds us all the freedom always has to be fought for and should never be taken for granted.”💛#مهسا_امینی pic.twitter.com/ZMlrX9nqaX
— ﮼ستایش (@pjmtarte) September 25, 2022
Above all else, Iran’s protest movement is a women’s rights movement, which is led by women in Iran and furthered by women around the world.
There are a number of ways you can support Iranian women who are fighting for freedom and justice following the death of Mahsa.
Global Citizen is urging the public to share information and posts of protests from Iran and around the world on social media, using the hashtags #MahsaAmini, #IranProtests, #IranProtests2022 and #ZhinaAmini.
You can also donate to or support human rights organisations such as the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center, and Amnesty International.
