The death of Mahsa Amini, 22, following her arrest by the so-called “morality police”, shocked the world. According to a statement issued by the U.N., “Amini was arrested by the Iran’s morality police on September 13 for being perceived as wearing ‘improper hijab.’ Reports indicate she was severely beaten by members of the morality police during her arrest and transfer to the Vozara Detention Centre.” The statement continued that Amini fell into a coma at the detention centre and died in hospital on September 16. Iranian authorities said she died of a heart attack, and claimed her death was from natural causes. However, some reports suggested that Amini’s death was a result of alleged torture and ill-treatment.”
The morality police have used the threat of detention and violence to control women’s appearance and behavior in the public. Furthermore, Amnesty International reports that the morality police “routinely subject women and girls to arbitrary detention, torture and other ill-treatment for not complying with Iran’s abusive, degrading and discriminatory compulsory veiling laws.”
Mahsa Amini’s death has sparked protests across Iran. Thousands of people have taken to the streets in cities throughout Iran, including Tehran, Ilam, Kermanshah, Mahabad, Sanandaj, Sari and Tabriz. They have been calling for accountability for Mahsa Amini’s death, an end to violence and discrimination against women in Iran, and an end to their compulsory veiling.
The peaceful protests have been met with excessive use of force, which resulted in several fatalities. Sarina Esmailzadeh, 16, was allegedly beaten to death at a protest in Gohardasht in Alborz province on September 23, 2022. Nika Shakarami, 16, was allegedly killed by Iranian security forces during a protest. Hadis Najafi, 23, was shot dead during a protest on the streets of Karaj.
These are only a few names of those who paid the ultimate price for defending the human rights of women in Iran.
According to Amnesty International, the Iranian security forces have killed at least 66 people, including children, and wounded hundreds after firing live rounds at protesters and bystanders in Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchistan province on September 30. Since then, another 16 people were killed in separate incidents in Zahedan.