Protests have continued in Iran after a young woman died in police custody after failing to wear her head scarf properly, according to the morality police. Mahsa Amini, or Jina as she was known to her Kurdish family, has inspired a massive protest movement that has many in Iran calling for ‘death to the dictator’. Many others have simply been asking for equality for women and economic relief, though even these simple demands have been met with disproportionate, deadly violence from the state.
The Iranian government is showing its love for authoritarianism, as if the world needed more proof as it continues to arm Russia during their illegal invasion of Ukraine, by pushing to persecute peaceful protesters. The latest reports say that around 1000 protesters will stand trial for simply disagreeing with the regime and being brave enough to say so in public.
There have been numerous reports stating that many have been detained and held in horrid conditions, including being refused medical care and access to lawyers, Unfortunately it seems that those being detained might be considered the lucky ones, being that recent figures show over 250 protesters have simply been murdered in the streets by Iranian security forces.
Now even school children are being targeted. Many female students are removing their head coverings and stamping on pictures of the dictator, Ali Khamenei, that are obligatory in classrooms. State thugs have been visiting schools to search for dissidents, and have even been alleged to have murdered minors on campus.
Tehran is not likely to stray from this line of discourse anytime soon as many regimes that see the sand slipping through their fingers often tighten their grip. Iran is facing serious economic issues currently including seeing the rial hit record lows. This along with the recent news that many in the west are viewing a deal on nuclear as more and more of a waste of time, Iran is likely feeling the pressure mount.
If the Iranian people and the global community continue to apply pressure with protests and sanctions, it is possible that real change happens in the country. It is certainly hoped that those in Iran do not have to continue to pay with their blood and can soon live free, thus it is imperative that foreign governments make it abundantly clear that they will back those speaking out against this brutal regime.