Shops close in Iran on anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death — Jerusalem Post
A general strike took place in Iran’s Kurdish regions on the anniversary of Mahsa Jina Amini’s death: shops closed in her hometown of Saqqez, as well as in Sanandaj, Kamyaran and other cities. Security forces and police were deployed to areas holding commemorative events, while roads leading to the Aichi cemetery, where Amini is buried, were reportedly blocked.
As The Jerusalem Post writes, four Kurdish political prisoners also announced a hunger strike for the anniversary. Human rights groups reported detentions ahead of the commemorative date.
Protests after Amini’s death
Mahsa Jina Amini died on September 16, 2022, in a Tehran hospital after being detained by Iran’s morality police for allegedly wearing her hijab improperly. She was 22 years old. Her death sparked protests across the country, whose participants used the slogan “Woman, Life, Freedom.”
During the protests, women removed and burned headscarves, while demonstrations took place from Tehran to the country’s Kurdish regions. The editorial states that the demonstrations were suppressed: hundreds of people were killed, thousands were arrested, and several protesters were subsequently executed.
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Hijab and women’s rights
Despite the continued mandatory hijab requirement, women without one are increasingly seen in shopping malls, cafes and public transport in Tehran and other major cities. According to the publication, authorities continue to seek enforcement through detentions, prosecutions, surveillance cameras, warnings, vehicle confiscations and pressure on businesses.
Yaser Fattahi, whose father died while trying to save a young woman who was shot after Amini’s funeral, told the publication that women’s problems are not limited to the hijab. According to him, the freedom to choose whether or not to wear a hijab is one of women’s basic rights.
The Jerusalem Post editorial also says that at the beginning of the year, a new wave of nationwide protests was accompanied by the use of force and mass arrests. According to the publication, at least 40,000 deaths were reported. The country, the newspaper notes, continues to face economic hardship, political repression and restrictions on personal freedoms.
