More than forty days–the traditional mourning period in Iranian culture–have passed since the murder of a 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman, Mahsa Jina Amini, at the hands of the Islamic Republic’s “Morality Police” for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly in Tehran. Still, protests demanding change and accountability are rampant globally.
Protesters have taken to the streets, chanting “Women, Life, Liberty” in the wake of recent violent atrocities the Islamic Republic has committed against the people of Iran. Since the onset of the protests, over 320 Iranians have been killed, many of whom were among the country’s youth, and thousands more have been arrested, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA.)
Although opposition to the regime, which came to power after a coup in the 1970’s, has been ongoing for decades, Amini’s death brought forth a new wave of freedom fighters, led mainly by women and youth. What started as a movement for gender equality has gained the support of students, scholars, worker’s unions, and more. Peaceful acts of protest such as people cutting their hair and burning their hijabs, as well as strikes.
Recently, the Iranian parliament has voted to execute many prisoners who were arrested for protesting the regime as a way to teach rebels a hard lesson. Iranian activist and journalist Masih Alinejad tweeted that of the 290 parliament members, 227 of them voted in support of the death penalty. Though it is unclear how many prisoners will be sentenced to death if the Islamic Republic does move forward with the executions,
Not only are Iranians protesting in Iran, but the movement largely relies on support from other nations. Demonstrations around the world, namely in London, Paris, Toronto, and Los Angeles have helped to provide visibility to the movement. The diaspora that resulted from the 1979 Iranian Revolution scattered hundreds of thousands of Iranians, who are coming together to support the protesters in Iran from a far. While the most recent wave of the movement has been active since September, Iranians are still building momentum and are hopeful in their fight for justice, change, and freedom.