Iran Hijab Protest

Iran is known for their strict dress code that women must follow these rules includes wearing a Hijab, Showing no skin above the ankle, and nothing form-fitting. This dress code has been in place since 1979 after the Islamic Revolution. In order to get women to follow these rules, there are morality police who will arrest women and take them to a re-education center. The current leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been in power since 1979 and has made many attempts to limit the people of Iran from other countries. An example of this abuse of power is how Khamenei has tried to stop the Iranian people from accessing the internet.

Last week, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini died when being arrested in Tehran by the morality police, who enforces a strict dress code for women. This has sparked outrage in Iran causing many protests to arise, this includes women taking off and burning their Hijabs chanting ‘death to the dictator’. Other footage shows a crowd chanting “Women, life, freedom” setting bonfires and fighting the police. Many of these protest groups do quick protests and then disperse to avoid the police. If caught by police it leads to big disputes that have led to many deaths.

These protests are deadly and have already caused death to several people as a 23-year-old and a 16-year-old woman were both shot dead are protesting. The death of these two ladies brings the total count of deaths from these protests to 76 after just 10 days of protests. The Iranian government was quick to cover it up stating that Amini died of a heart attack and fell into a coma after her arrest. According to her family though Amini had no history of a heart condition according to Emtedad news, an Iranian pro-reform media outlet. Women all over Iran are joining in on the protests including school girls blocking a street while waving their hijabs over their heads. It is important to note that everyone participating in these protests is putting their lives as well as the lives of others around them in danger. After three weeks of protests, there is no sign of it stopping the women of Iran are remaining strong. Many of these people are not interested in all politics but just want to live their lives freely. The bravery of these people is immense in the face of police brutality they are fighting back for the improvement of lives in their country.