Iran Protest

Let's start with what has provoked these widespread protests. Well, the short answer is a death of an Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, who died in custody. But what is the background of the story? Namely, Ms Amini was visiting her family in Teheran when the so-called morality police arrested her since she didn't fully cover her hair with a hijab. In Iran and some other Muslim countries such as Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Malaysia, the morality police are the security forces executing regulations on the way of clothing that illustrates and aligns with Islamic morality.

But how has one of the once most powerful and advanced ancient empires, Persia (a name for Iran until 1935), become so narrow-minded? The answer is the 1979 Islamic Revolution that changed everything for this country in the Middle East; that was the year when the Shah was overthrown, and clerks took power. Shah was progressive—modernizing and Westernizing the Monarchy. Unlike him, the founder of the Islamic Republic and Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini was conservative and against the West and the United States. His successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, continues with this non-democratic and repressive way of rule. Thus, it is not surprising to see draconian measures in Iran.

Gasht-e Ershad (Guidance Patrols) has been performing the function of Irans morality police since the revolution. Their main task is to enforce mandatory rules regarding the use of hijab for women (fully covering hair and bodies), restrict the use of cosmetics, and ban the Western style of hairstyle and dress code for men. Although the former head of state Hassan Rouhani opposed these rules, he couldn't change anything since he had limited power over this issue. Anyway, there is slight hope since the Gasht-e Ershad won't be able to conduct arresting anymore following new reforms starting this year. However, it is too late for the deceased Ms Amini.

After having been taken by police, Mahsa Amini spent three days in detention, where she eventually died. The death of this 22-year-old woman from Iran’s Kurdistan region has sparked a series of anti government protests due to a blatant violation of human rights. Also, the Iranian people are afraid and deeply concerned for women's safety, demanding a response from the Iranian government. Protesters took the streets, blocking roads, burning garbage containers, and clashing with the security forces. On Social Media, videos circulate where women take away their headscarves and burn them, labeling this protest an anti-hijab movement.

According to Iran International, state news, President Ebrahim Raisi, who is in New York attending the UN General Assembly, has ordered an investigation into the death of Mahsa Amini. But since he was elected, the number of morality police has increased. From some sources, the detained girl was beaten when arrested and taken in the police van. However, Iranian authorities stated that this woman died naturally from a heart attack, denying Iranian police brutality, human rights infringements, and any responsibility. This lack of accountability has intensified the anti-regime protest even more.

United Nations, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and other human rights activists support protesters and blame the suppressive regime of supreme leader Ali Khamenei that treats women as second-class citizens. Iran protest has gained support worldwide, as Associated Press and other news agencies report. It comes as no surprise because the West condemns Iran's government for its foreign affairs. The country's foreign policy is aimed at China and Vladimir Putin's Russia, which are also criticized for their lack of democracy, freedom of speech, and human rights.

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