At the time of writing, there have been massive demonstrations and protests across Iran across race, gender, ideology, religious background, sexual orientation and class. The demonstrations also spread to large parts of the world.
This post expresses the opinion of the author.
The people of Iran are now uniting with one goal in mind – to overthrow the Islamic regime that has placed the country’s population in an iron fist since the 1979 revolution.
The background to the widespread demonstrations that swept the country is the brutal murder of Gina “Mahsa” Amini. A 22-year-old Kurdish girl, who was arrested by the so-called morality police in Tehran during a family visit to the capital.
She was arrested because her hijab did not adequately cover her hair. The morality police had to train her to wear a headscarf at the police station and to have a “reprimanded conversation”.
According to eyewitnesses, she was beaten and mistreated on her way to arrest, and within hours she was taken to hospital in a coma before dying later from her injuries. The Tehran police chief said Amini died of cardiac arrest. He described the death as an “unfortunate event”.
Close social media and the internet
The regime is cracking down on the protesters. Security forces were instructed to show no mercy. Hundreds of young women and men were killed, and hundreds more disappeared or arrested. The authorities shut down the internet and social media to hide their crimes.
Troops do not fear the consequences of using violence against protesters, as the country’s legislation grants them impunity. The new generation of young people and the future of the country are showing no signs of giving up. These are led by brave young women who do not allow themselves to be subjugated by the patriarchal elite.
Schoolgirls take off their headscarves and shout “Death to the dictator” – a reference to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all state affairs.
Demonstrators also use the slogan “Women, Life, Freedom” which was originally originated from Kurdish female freedom fighters in the struggle against oppression. In recent days, the intelligence service and the police have also attacked students in different universities.
40 million women are under surveillance
It may be hard for many to imagine that in the 21st century you will have to fight for basic human rights such as the right to dress as you like in public.
For people in the West, it is so remote and incomprehensible that the state decides how much hair and skin women can display in public. Nearly forty million women and girls in Iran are under surveillance as the morality police have been given the power to stop the women and examine their clothing, their veiled clothing, the length of their clothing, as well as the amount of makeup they are wearing.
What is being imposed on Iranian women is a complete violation of human rights, with authorities dictating individual decisions regarding their own body.
It is old news that Iran does not meet international requirements for the rule of law. The citizen lacks basic civil rights. The absence of democracy, lack of respect for international human rights obligations, politically controlled legal processes and methods of punishment, as well as strict social rules of living, mean that personal protection and social protection do not meet the same standards as in secular Western democracies.
I can’t help but interfere
Iranian authorities do everything in their power to prevent citizens from exercising their rights to freedom of expression, religion, and assembly.
As a woman and an ethnic minority from Eastern Kurdistan, I can’t help but get involved in this matter. Brave and brave young people are fighting to ensure that more people like me do not flee and seek refuge in other countries due to their political status and ethnic background.
Had my parents not fled to Southern Kurdistan to continue their political struggle against the Iranian clergy, as a woman and an ethnic minority, I would have done everything in my power for freedom and justice in society.
The legal profession under pressure
On this date, I will salute and show my full support to the Iranian people and especially to my fellow lawyers in Iran who are under severe pressure from the country’s authorities.
The Iranian legal profession is under pressure from the authorities. Lawyers at particular risk are those who take up difficult cases related to political activism or human rights before the Revolutionary Court.
Lawyers are prohibited from attending courtrooms during court proceedings with their clients, denied access to clients’ case files, and denied access to clients in prison.
In addition, there are attacks on lawyers’ security, including summonses for questioning, office searches, and regular threats. In addition to being a threat to the personal safety of lawyers, this practice also poses a serious threat to the right to legal aid.
The free and independent legal profession is the cornerstone of the rule of law, and this independence is a privilege that Iranian human rights lawyers do not enjoy.
I and many others with me have strongly distanced myself from Iran’s persecution of the population in violation of human rights, and I condemn the gross and unnecessary violence.
A unique social movement led by women
I miss a lot of the world’s interest in this unique social movement in Iran, led by women. Those who have taken to the streets risk everything for freedom and justice. It is not enough to propagate diplomatic protests, and here countries with political leaders at the front must stand clearly and unequivocally in support of the Iranian people.
Protesters need to know that we support them. Our statements of support may be what we need to keep the protests going, so they can gain support for what they are fighting for.
Even if the protesters do not succeed this time, we hope that this is the beginning of a revolution and the threshold for protesting will be low again in the future. It is the people who represent the greatest threat to the system. We must support these people.
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