Mahsa Amini & Iranian women around the world

By: Milla Nguyen

On September 13, 2022, Mahsa Amini (a 22-year-old woman living in Iran) was arrested by Iran's "morality" police squadron for her way of wearing her Hijab and was beaten for the matter She passed away in prison about three days after the incident Afterwards, the death of Mahsa Amini ignited outrage and other incidents of women being taken into custody had come to the surface in global news. Female reporters and journalists had been jailed for writing opinionated pieces on government views or disagreements with certain parts of Iranian culture

Across social media internationally, activists began protesting for a call to action and change within the treatment of women. Protesters tore of their head scarfs and Hijabs, some also cut their hair while walking in solidarity. Activists such as Nina Ansary describe Amini as a symbol of speaking out against oppressive regimes and balancing the scales for equal female opportunity. In the United States, Mahsa Amini was listed in Forbes Magazine as one of the most influential women of the year It was revealed later that Amini came from a Kurdish background, a small community of culture within Iran. Activists remind social media users that Amini was never a social rights activist and never intended to start an uprising, yet others felt a strong need to keep her spirit and cause alive.

After the protests continued, the United Nations opened an investigation on Iranian police forces to analyze human rights violations. Due to lack of communication and resources, not all incidents have recorded Though, it is known by communities that women have disappeared or have been harassed for many years. In the winter season of that year, reports claim that the "morality" police had been disbanded from public outrage but activists warn that this is not the end. At the same time, Iran has been struggling with an unstable handle on their government and worsening tensions with terrorist organizations. Even with global powers such as the United States and Europe involved, the world begins to change with more risks of war, attacks, and political unrest.

In the Forbes article, "Mahsa Amini: The Spark that Ignited an Iranian Revolution", Maggie McGrath quotes activist, Alinejad, "A woman warned her daughter from joining the protests in fear that she would be killed. Her daughter replies with, 'I can’t choose what I wear. I don’t have the right to dance in public By law, I’m not allowed to be myself I’m already dead'" (Forbes 1).

As I write this article with guilt and a sharp pain in my chest, I realize as an Asian-American who is fortunate to live in the United States that it is much easier to complain with privilege than it is to take a look on the other side of the world. As a 21-year-old, I begin to realize how young these women are and what they have to face every time they go outside just to get a breath of fresh air By no means am I writing with false pity, but stories like these teach young people all over the world that we must be grateful for what we have. By comparison, the United States grants their citizens to have the freedom of what they wear, what they say, and how they do things. In other Middle Eastern or European/ Asian countries with stricter governments, it is much harder to get around these laws without consequences

Ultimately, there will be an unfortunate incline of incidents like these if the conversation isn't started. Still, I think there is great power in unity and in movements with the accessibility of journalism as well as social media coverage. Younger generations are starting to become more aware about global issues, important ones that will change the course of the future.

*Sources

*https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/22/women-rights-iran-protests-00069245

*https://ottawacitizen com/news/local-news/mahsa-amini-street-city-to-consider-tribute-outside-vacantiranian-embassy

*https://www forbes com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2022/12/06/mahsa-amini-the-spark-that-ignited-a-women-ledrevolution/

*https://www cnn com/2022/10/26/middleeast/iran-clashes-mahsa-amini-grave-intl/index html

Images from (no credit claimed):

*https://allarab news/iranian-women-cut-their-hair-burn-hijabs-in-protest-call-on-the-west-to-show-support/

*https://www hindustantimes com/world-news/iran-protests-following-mahsa-amini-s-death-intensify-5points-101663756919472.html