Text by Halima Awale and Mariana Ferro

Mosaiko Iran women protests — Yasin Akgul AFP, Istanbul, 21/9/2022

At the demise of one, may others rise. Amongst others, on September 16th, the world lost a fighter. Even so, as Iranian players take a stand for human rights by refusing to sing the national anthem during their first match in this year's World Cup, Iran’s fight for human rights continues. It was Mahsa Amini's death that sparked Iran’s current movement for equal rights. The 22-year-old Kurdish Iranian woman was initially detained by the country's morality police (known as the guidance patrol the gašt-e eršād) for alleged inappropriate use of the hijab headscarf and the general dress code. Mahsa was kept in police custody for three days before collapsing. Witnesses confirm she was beaten and tortured in the white-and-green Guidance Patrol van, and yet the Iranian government and police deny this claim at all costs.

The morality police in Iran were established in 2005 to ensure that people dress according to Islamic dress codes, but it is now being universally condemned for its brutal security measures. In reality, women were required to wear a hijab outdoors just after Iran's revolution in 1979 which already increased tension on the streets. Acts of harassment and violence against women wearing the hijab improperly don't always seem to be unusual, whether incited by authority forces or a random pedestrian. In theory, Islam has a dress code for both men and women as everyone is expected to dress modestly. Yet in practice, the morality police focuses more on women, creating an unbalance between both genders' levels of freedom. Scholars have differing perspectives on this issue. Some of them believe that the morality police have an Islamic obligation to encourage what is right and ban what is wrong while also serving the needs of the people. Others disagree with the morality police, arguing that instead of imposing Islam, authorities should respect citizens' rights to freedom and dignity while upholding Iranian law. According to some scholars, the concept of a morality police is un-Islamic when performing conditions of a morality police leads to sedition. This means that if it leads to acts of rebellion it would be forbidden (haram).

In the case of Mahsa's tragic death, reactions against the authorities manifested themselves in women-led protests in Iran, which have since spread around the world. As Iranians march in the streets, repression and violence continue to arise in the growing number of deaths at the hands of the police. Months after the initial uprising, the Iran Human Rights Organization continues to report on the rising number of deaths and violence. As of December 7th, it had announced at least 458 deaths nationwide, as well as 11 people sentenced to death, many of whom were protesters (Iran Human Rights).

Still, these numbers are limited, as violence in the provinces suggests that the actual number of deaths is certainly higher. Although Iran is officially coined as the Islamic Republic of Iran, the current situation is far from Islamic. Several verses in the Holy Book of Islam express the current regime's paradox, such as “There’s no compulsion in religion” (2:56). In another verse the Qur’an states “Say, ‘The truth is from your lord’: Let him who wills believe it, and let him who wills, reject it’’ (18:29).

Mosaiko Iran women protests Los Angeles — Apu Gomes AFP Getty Images, Los Angeles 1/10/2022

While media censorship continues to block access and remove the content in response to this tragedy, worldwide anti-government protests and the hashtag #MahsaAmin are spreading. Even so, authorities continue to miss the point of the protests as people keep marching toward the city. Iranian students continue to scream "Shame on you!" across the streets, defying Iranian laws. People have been accused of acts of sabotage, which only serves to reinforce conspiracy theories spread via Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei's Twitter account. He claims that these protests are a part of a scheme by zionist and US regimes to undermine Islamic Iran's independence. Even so, this will not stop women from posting photos, refusing to wear hijabs, and cutting their hair to raise awareness and fight for freedom.

Ultimately, the situation in Iran is not out of the ordinary. Just as previous movements have failed to achieve reforms, Iran’s current phenomenon lacks the leadership and authority to challenge Iran's repressive government. It is not breaking news that women are frequently deprived of their choice in many parts of the world. Yet, battles for human rights expand across the world - from the West as proved through the Roe v. Wade case challenging Texas' repressive abortion laws, to Iran protests that defy the country's strict Islamic law.

Still, women cutting their hair in solidarity with the movement feels bittersweet. There’s a double standard when women who are not allowed to wear the hijab are discouraged.

On the surface, the oppression appears to be contained within the fabric wrapped around the woman's head. The reality, however, is far from this, because the actual oppression remains freedom of choice. The rights of Muslim women who choose or refuse to wear the hijab should be equally defended because the oppression lies in male-led regimes laying down the law on women.

Sources:

Iran Human Rights. (2022). Iran Protests: at Least 458 People Killed/11 Officially Sentenced to Death, https://iranhr.net/en/articles/5623/.

The escalating war on women through Iran’s ongoing protests