Women's struggle for freedom

Women sitting in a popular square in Tehran enjoying the pleasant evening temperature, without covering their hair. This is how Iranian feminist activist Leila Azizi recently described an evening in the Iranian capital to the Danish newspaper Dagbladet Information. The woman’s name was fabricated because she feared retaliation from the security services affiliated with the clergy. Saturday marks one year since Gina (Mahsa) Amini, an Iranian-Kurdish woman, died in police custody. Just a few days ago, she was arrested on the streets of Tehran by the morality police because she did not cover her hair well. Widespread popular protests spread across the country in the months following the death, under the slogan “Women, Life, Freedom.” Iranian authorities responded to the protests with violence. Several hundred demonstrators were killed and tens of thousands were arrested. Many of them were executed because of their participation in the demonstrations.

“Iranian authorities responded to the protests with violence.»

It’s not just In the streets where demonstrators were severely beaten. Authorities sometimes shut down the country’s Internet to prevent the spread of information beyond national borders. Artificial intelligence and surveillance cameras equipped with facial recognition technology are also being used in public places. Information: Azizi tells the story of her going to the shopping center with her friend who did not wear the hijab. The friend soon received a text message warning her of the fine, she said.

Many media outlets have She spoke about how the regime was tightening its grip ahead of the first anniversary of Gina (Mahsa) Amini’s death. At the weekend, Klassekampen wrote about a draft law under consideration in Parliament. This will increase penalties and raise fines for not wearing the hijab. NRK reported job advertisements from Iranian authorities looking for veiled policewomen. The demonstrations have not led to regime change, and there is no indication that this will happen anytime soon. However, Iranian women continue to lead the struggle for a more just society. Before the weekend, a Western diplomat estimated to the BBC that about 20% of Iranian women break the law by going out on the streets without a hijab. In the words of Laila Azizi: Boldness is contagious.