It’s been a year since the death of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini sparked worldwide protests against Iran’s oppressive hijab laws. Although mass protests have quieted down from their peak in late 2022 and it was reported that the morality police had been disarmed, the fight for women and freedom in Iran is far from over.
Recap: Mahsa Amini’s death & mass protests
22-year-old Mahsa Amini was taken into custody by Iran’s moral enforcement authorities (aka the morality police) on 16 September 2022, for allegedly violating hijab regulations. Her family and local media sources reported that she was subjected to severe physical abuse during her detention and ‘re-education’. Mahsa lost her life just three days later while still in police custody.
Mahsa’s capture and death were brought to light by journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, both of whom have since been imprisoned. Widespread protests quickly erupted across Iran, led by women who bravely removed their hijabs and publicly cut off their hair as acts of defiance. The protests lasted for around 80 days; although it’s hard to get official numbers, human rights agencies estimate almost 20,000 people have been arrested and at least 530 have been killed.
What’s happened since?
In December last year, there were reports the morality police had been disbanded – based on the Iranian attorney-general telling a conference it was “shut down by those who created it.” Six months after the protests, NPR interviewed women in Iran, one of whom said: “The morality police haven’t been seen in months, and [a friend] says security forces are no longer focusing on enforcing the hijab rules except when they see an opportunity to make a little money.” However, the government has not confirmed any of this – in fact, they’ve denied the group ever existed.
The United Nations Human Rights Council also launched an investigation into human-rights violations in Iran related to the protests, sending a fact-finding mission in November 2022. Iran’s officials refused to co-operate with the investigation. In June 2023, the UNHRC clarified that the scope of the investigation would also include the targeting and harassment of journalists (including those living outside Iran) and the families. The full report will only be released in March 2024.
In the meantime, Iran’s treatment of objectors seem to be escalating again…
Iranian government is prepping for unrest
In the lead-up to the one-year anniversary of the Mahsa Amini protests, Iran’s government began arresting activists involved in the 2022 protests, and their family members. Independent women’s rights group Bidarzani published details of 12 of these arrests. The arrests were allegedly made on the basis that these people were planning to “incite chaos and vandalism”. The Human Rights Activists News Agency has also reported authorities arrested the sister of a protester killed during the 2022 protests, as well as travel blogger Elaheh Asgari (arrested while trying to get her seized passport back). Families of people who were executed by the government for protesting have also been warned by officials not to hold memorials for their loved ones, so as to not “incite further chaos”.
Iran’s morality police have also come out of hiding to resume headscarf patrols and the government is considering a terrifying new bill with harsher modesty rules and harsher punishments.
Dear western governments – wondering what can be done about the hostage crisis in Iran? Simple solution: suspend all air travel to Iran until all hostages are safely returned. For a tourism industry that earned 48.1 Bill in 2021, this is an exorbitant daily loss. The hostages…
— Elica Le Bon الیکا ل بن (@elicalebon) September 7, 2023
Iran’s new ‘modesty’ bill
The new bill states “clothes that show a part of the body below the neck or above the ankles or above the forearms” and wearing anything that is “revealing or tight” will be a violation of the law. It’s a clear attempt to show people in Iran and around the world that the government ‘has control’. They are trying to intimidate the public from doing another mass protest this year.
The 70-article draft law sets out key changes to restructure Iranian society around laws that seek to exert even more control over women:
Legal Reclassification: Within the existing “hijab law,” violating the dress code carries penalties ranging from ten days to two months of imprisonment or fines spanning 50,000 to 500,000 Iranian rials (maximum AUD$18.35). The new law would set jail terms of five to 10 years, and increase fines up to 360 million Iranian rials (AUD$13,205).
AI: To enforce the new law, the new bill would allow Iranian police to use “AI systems to identify perpetrators of illegal behavior using tools such as fixed and mobile cameras.” In April 2023 state media reported that cameras would be installed in public places to identify women who violate hijab law.
Businesses: The new law would impose stricter punishments on business owners who are tolerant of hijab violations. Penalties include being fined three months worth of profit, travel restrictions, and being barred from engaging in public or online activities for up to two years.
Celebrities & Influencers: Although the classification of a celebrity is unclear, they are targeted in the draft of the new bill. Celebrities and influencers face a fine of up to 10% of their assets; temporary exclusion from work, employment, or professional engagements; and bans on both international travel and social media engagement.
There are reports that Iranian police are already imposing the new bill, unlawfully. It is likely to pass; during a straw poll in an open session of parliament, 175 members voted in favour and only 49 voted against. The next step is for the Guardian Council (a separate body responsible for ensuring any legislation aligns with the Iranian constitution) to approve the bill. Approval would see the new laws put into practise on a trial basis for three to five years. After the trial, MPs can make the laws permanent.
It sounds bad… and it is. But the process means Iranian women and activists still have a chance.
How to help
It’s likely that public demonstrations will occur on the one year anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death. With authorities allegedly already enforcing the new hijab laws, the stakes even higher than last year. One activist told the Guardian: “Whether or not the regime wants to accept, we will hit the streets again and there’s no going back. We are already planning huge protests leading up to the one-year anniversary of Mahsa’s death. There will be more arrests or worse. These are scare tactics and we won’t fall for this.”
Some things you can do from Australia to help the people of Iran:
Donate or support human rights organisations:
- The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) aims to safeguard human rights in Iran by researching and documenting human rights violations within the country and then disclosing them to the public.
- The Abdorrahman Boroumand Center is a non-governmental organization that also commits uses research and documentation to expose any human rights violations happening in Iran. They also help get out personal stories of people in Iranians in both Farsi and English.
Share information: Go back to basics and share information or repost on your stories what’s happening Iran. Right now not many people realise that injustice is once again brewing. Keep an eye on the hashtags #iranprotests2023 or #mahsaamini and follow content creators liked Elica Le Bon, Yeganeh and Middle East Matters. When there are calls to action, to amplify, write letters or donate, follow those instructions.
Read up: Learn more about the history of women’s rights in Iran. We recommend Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi and The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi to start you off.
It is crucial that we continue to show Iranian women our support – just because the infographics and the reposts have stopped, doesn’t mean that the injustice has stopped. Real change only happens with consistent pressure and action.
Smart people read more:
Yes, Social Posting Helps! 3 Times Global Attention Helped Protestors Win
The protests in Iran are not a revolution—yet. These events must occur first. – Atlantic Council
US reaches deal with Iran on prisoner swap and release of $6bn frozen oil revenue – Middle East Eye
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