SAYDA ŞÎRZAD

News Center- Following the Islamic revolution in Iran in 1979, the modern legal system was replaced by an Islamic legal system based on the Sharia law. According to the Sharia law, all women were required to wear the hijab in public spaces. Women, who did not wear hijab, began to face fines or imprisonment. Since then, this law has been used to legitimize the crimes committed by the Iranian regime. The killing of Jina Mahsa Amini is among the crimes that the Islamic Republic of Iran has recently committed under the pretext of compulsory hijab. However, protests sparked in Iran and Rojhilat following the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini. The killing of Jina Mahsa Amini by the Iranian regime forces sparked anger in many cities of Rojhelat Kurdistan such as Sanandaj and Jina Mahsa Amini’s hometown of Saqqez. Islamic Republic government officials tried to bury Jina Amini's body in less than 24 hours to prevent the reactions from growing. As a result of the efforts of Jîna Mahsa Aminî's family, the funeral was postponed until Saturday morning, September 26. The people of Saqqez did not leave the family of Jina Mahsa Amini at the Aychi Cemetery. Women removed their hijab and chanted, “Jin, Jiyan, Azadî”. This slogan has then become an international slogan chanted by women. This slogan has been chanted all around the world in different languages.

Growing support

After the protests that started in Iran and Rojhilat following the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini against the Iranian regime and the mandatory hijab, many prominent Iranian and international figures supported the nationwide protests by chanting the slogan “jin, jiyan, azadi”. Artists, athletes and intellectuals began to support the protests across the country. However, the Iranian regime has used violence, weapons and arrests against protesters to crack down on the protests. Despite the oppression, the support to protests and protesters has been growing.

Support from actors

Many Iranian female actors and filmmakers removed their headscarves to support the nationwide protests. Shabnam Farshadjoo, Katayoun Riahi, Shiva Ebrahimi, Fatemeh Motamed-Arya, Sharareh Dolat Abadi, Anahita Hemmati, Maryam Palizban, Masoumeh Ghasemipour and Maryam Boubani were among the first female actor, who protested Iran’s mandatory hijab law and supported the nationwide protests.

Protests in Sistan and Baluchestan

People took to the streets in the cities of Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Rojihilat Kurdistan, to protest the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini and the mandatory hijab law. Iranian regime forces opened fire on protesters and killed many protesters.

Iranian female actor Ladan Tabatabaei broke the glass statue given by Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former military officer, to support the protests. Fatemeh Motamed-Arya made a speech at the funeral ceremony of Amin Tarokh in Tehran to protest Iranian mandatory hijab law.

Support from male actors

Male actors also supported the protests. Despite the threats of the Iranian regime forces, they still support the nationwide protests. Iranian sport climber Elnaz Rekabi competed abroad without a headscarf to support the protests. She came fourth in the competition. Then, she announced on her social media account that her hijab had fallen off inadvertently. But according to some sources, she was threatened to say so.

Niloufar Mardani, a member of the national Iranian speed skating team, did not wear a hijab while accepting her award for winning a competition in Turkey to support Iranian women. Farzaneh Fasihi, an Iranian sprinter, also supported the nationwide protests. The players and coaches of Iranian basketball team Canco removed their headscarves for a group photo in order to support the protests. Iranian football players such as Voria Ghafouri, Ali Daei and Ali Karimi also supported the protesters.

Support and reaction on social media platforms

Many Iranian athletes expressed their support for the nationwide protests. Iranian former wrestling champion Mohammad Talaei expressed his support to the protests on his social media account, “Neither Islam nor Iran’s borders are in danger. The only thing that is in danger right now is the lifestyles of Islamic republic’s lackeys and that of their offspring,” he wrote. Iranian volleyball player Amirhossein Esfandiar reposted a video of violent confrontations between security forces and protesters, writing, “You have no sense of humanity, why do you beat and kill innocent people?”

Players of the Iran national football team also showed their support for the anti-regime protests on their social media accounts. But then, some of them deleted their social media posts. Soroush Rafiei and Mehdi Qaedi did not delete their posts.

She cut off her hair

Roberta Metsola, Swedish member of the European Parliament, cut off her hair during a speech in the European Parliament in solidarity with anti-regime protests in Iran. Some political figures also issued statements condemning the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini, the death sentences against the protesters.

Abir Al-Sahlani, an Iraqi-born Swedish Member of the European Parliament, also cut off her hair and chanted the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” during a speech in the EU assembly to be in solidarity with Iranian women.

Political prisoners in Iran

Some political prisoners in Iran have issued statements and started hunger strikes to be in solidarity with protesters. Political prisoners Narges Mohammadi, Alia Matalzadeh, Hasti Amiri, Zhila Makundi, Sepideh Kashani, Sepideh Gholian, Maleeha Jafari, Elnaz Eslami, Mahnaz Desha, Nazanin Mohammadnejad, Raha Asgarizadeh and Gelareh Abbasi showed their solidarity with the people in Iran.

Support spread the slogan

In addition to well-known figures in Iran, many lawyers, academics, teachers, students, and human rights activists have participated in the anti-regime protesters. Their support spread the slogan “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” all around the world.

This uprising is different

In the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the people of Iran have taken to the streets to protest the patriarchal and misogynous policies of the regime, economic and political crises. But the current uprising is different from the previous uprisings in the country. This uprising has been led by women. And the slogan chanted by women has become an international slogan.

First state expelled from UN Women

In December, United Nations member states voted to oust Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Thus, Iran becomes the first member state expelled from UN Women.