Iran: Yearning for freedom 2 years after Mahsa Amini’s death

DW-Sept13th2024

Iran is marking two years since Jina Mahsa Amini died in the custody of the regime’s morality police. Anger over the 22-year-old’s death escalated into widespread anti-government protests across the country and eventually into the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement.

Thousands of Iranians around the world also took to the streets in solidarity with the protesters and called for an end to the repression in Iran.

But despite the protesters’ efforts, the movement ended with the Iranian regime brutally suppressing the marches and targeting activists inside the country.

At least 500 people were killed and over 20,000 were arrested during the crackdown, according to human rights groups.

Hopes of Iran’s Gen Z fighting for freedom

While the Islamic theocratic regime managed to hold on to power in Iran, the death of Jina Mahsa Amini is seen as a turning point for the country and its society.  The most notable shift is the growing reluctance of many women, particularly younger women living in cities, to wear the hijab. Defying the pressures and threats from security forces and the morality police, these women have been resisting the hijab mandate — the same one that was used to arrest Amini — and challenging the authorities’ efforts to enforce it.

Iranian journalist Hedieh Kimiaee said this development shows “the anger Iranian women have carried for years, and the killing of Jina Mahsa Amini has brought it to the streets.”

“Their fight against the compulsory hijab continues,” she told DW, adding: “Generation Z will take this struggle even more seriously, as this outraged generation sees its freedom in the overthrow of the Islamic Republic and is determined to achieve it.”

Is Iran on verge of new protests?

After Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in May this year, the relatively liberal Masoud Pezeshkian was elected to replace him. But the election did not signal an end to political repression —  around 100 people were executed in August alone and at least six political prisoners sentenced to death. And economic problems, particularly high inflation and unemployment, remain unresolved.

According to many analysts, these conditions could likely trigger a new round of protests against the Iranian regime.

Journalist Kimiaee says that “the crimes of the Islamic Republic against the people of Iran continue unabated” and “any future intolerable event could once again bring the Iranian people to rise up.”

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