Human Rights Crisis in Iran

In advance of the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25th, 2022, here is a brief post about the women's movement in Iran. This post is an informative text about the recent uprising of Iranian women and men triggered by the brutal murder of a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman named Mahsa Jina Amini by the Islamic Republic of Iran morality police.

Woman Life Freedom, the movement slogan, is an organic response to a society that is anti-woman, pro-martyrdom, and repressive. This uprising is not about the dress code or the compulsory hijab Iranian women have to wear. Iranians are protesting gender apartheid, forced confessions, no due process, unfair trials, extrajudicial killings, no free expression, torture, child marriage, government corruption, and funding of inhumane operations by the regime.

Recently, I was looking at the United Nations international days calendar. I noticed the current crisis in Iran, which started shortly after Mahsa Amini passed away on September 16th, 2022, is relevant to the United Nations awareness days and events in September, October, and November (listed on the UN calendar), for example:

September 21st was the International Day of Peace; it was also the day when the Islamic Republic sent repressive force toward demonstrators (in an attempt) to end Mahsa Amini protests and killed at least seven people on that day. -?The Guardian

September 28th was the International Day for Universal Access to Information; it was also when the Islamic Republic blocked internet access in Iran for almost a week as Mahsa Amini protests grew. -?The Guardian

October 2nd was the International Day of Non-Violence. That same week the Islamic Republic killed at least 129 innocent protesters, including 12-year-old Mohamad Rakhshani in Zahedan, and 16-year-old Nika Shakarami in Tehran. -?NCRI

October 10th was World Mental Health Day. That week the Islamic Republic officials admitted that student protesters were being arrested and taken (against their will) to psychiatric institutions and re-education centres. -?CNN

October 11th was the International Day of the Girl Child. The Islamic Republic killed and arrested many girls and women by that point in time. Then, three days later, they brutally murdered another schoolgirl (whilst at school in Ardabil) by beating her to death. They killed her because she refused to sing the pro-regime anthem and refused to praise the Islamic Republic leader. The schoolgirl was Asra Panahi, and she was only 16 years old. -?The Guardian

October 17th was the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and recently Iran's currency hit a new low against UK British Pound Stirling and US Dollar. Iranian Rial currency dropped to its lowest value on November 1st (1 Iranian Rial = ￡0.000020). -?VOA News

October 24th was the United Nations Day, and people were calling out to the UN (on the streets and online), asking for the Islamic Republic to be removed from the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). We were asking the UN to do something about all the killings by the Islamic Republic regime. - Personal Experience

October 24th to 30th was Disarmament Week. That same week the Islamic Republic regime killed at least another 42 innocent people by using armoured vehicles ramming into crowds, shotguns that fire different types of pellets, riot-control guns used to launch teargas canisters, and stun grenades. -?Iran Wire

November 2nd was the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, and many Iranians and journalists (around the world) demanded the Islamic Republic regime release the two female journalists who broke the story about Mahsa Jina Amini's murder. Niloufar Hamedi and Elahe Mohamadi are currently under arrest for doing their job (but not according to the regime). According to the Islamic Republic, these ladies were plotting to act against national security and propaganda by covering Mahsa Jina Amini news! -?RFE/RL

Other humanitarian crimes by the Islamic Republic of Iran regime since protests started in September 2022 are as follows. Killing peaceful protesters by beating batons to their heads and shooting at close range or by a sniper, aiming their heads and hearts. Attacking Evin Prison in Tehran on October 15th. A night of horror for all Iranians. At least dozens of prisoners were killed that night. Many were the recently arrested protestors and students. Multiple people are still unaccounted for. Attacking several universities across Iran, including Tehran Sharif University, on October 1st. Attacking many schools and student dormitories across Iran and abducting many university students and school students regardless of their age. Shooting pilgrims in Shahcheraq Shrine in Shiraz on October 26th and repeated crackdowns and mass murder of worshipers in Zahedan. The fear of taking the injured protesters in Iran to hospitals for treatment. Due to the security guards visiting ERs and actively looking for injured protesters to arrest them and take them away.

Lastly, if you would wish to know more about the events in Iran, please follow #MahsaAmini and #IranProtests, read the stories, and watch video clips of what is happening on the streets of Iran on social media. There are demonstrations taking place all over the world in support of Iranian protesters and Iranian citizens. The biggest event so far was the 80,000 rally in Berlin on October 22nd. There are gatherings, marches, and human chains forming almost every weekend in the UK in London, Leeds, Newcastle, etc. Please feel free to join these events and support the women's movement in Iran.