The gist Since September 16 and the death of Masha Amini, a 22-year-old young woman who was arrested by police for wearing her veil poorly, Iranian women have taken off their veils and burned them during demonstrations led by the authorities were severely repressed. This movement reflects the situation in France, where the wearing of the veil is still controversial.
Sometimes all it takes is a spark to turn a dull anger into a revolution. In Tunisia, on December 17, 2010, 26-year-old Mohamed Bouazizi doused himself in gasoline and set himself on fire in front of the governorate’s headquarters. In the absence of official approval, this itinerant trader had his goods confiscated by city officials. His actions against arbitrariness will spark unprecedented demonstrations of support. The Jasmine Revolution was on the rise, ousting dictator Ben Ali and spreading to other Arab countries, from Egypt to Yemen, from Jordan to Sudan, from Morocco to Syria, with broad demands for freedom, equality and democracy.
Also read:
When TikTok serves young girls who are demanding the wearing of the veil at school in France
This Arab Spring, fueled by social networks, whose role was crucial, and television against the background of the economic crisis and the freedoms stifled by dictatorial regimes and the weight of religion in public life, had various consequences and inspired immense hope, especially among young people , but also bring disappointment and sometimes increased oppression, even terrible wars …
An Iranian woman burns her veil at a rally in Tehran. AFP – –
From the Arab Spring to Women, Life Freedom
Twelve years after the start of the Arab Spring, Iran is witnessing a major protest movement earlier this fall, which was also caught by a spark: the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on September 16 in a coma after being convicted by Tehran’s vice squad for ” wearing inappropriate clothing” had been arrested. Her Islamic veil did not cover her hair enough, according to the mullahs’ regime henchmen.
This beautiful young girl has become a symbol, her face a symbol of freedom for all women who, since the Islamic revolution of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979, have suffered a veritable “apartheid” within Iranian society, which until now has not been able to be influenced by anything.
Also read:
Feminist revolution in Iran: “We must stop making the veil a symbol of Islam,” says France’s first imam
Mahsa Amini
This time, however, the spark will literally fly to a spark because as soon as Mahsa Amini’s death is announced, anti-regime demonstrations will take place, with women daring to take off their veils and throw them away on fire. Dancing bareheaded, they shout “women, life, freedom,” a new “freedom-equality brotherhood” that is spreading across social networks across the country. Supported by demonstrations around the world, especially in front of Iranian embassies, encouraged also by men defending gender equality, Iranian women continue to demonstrate, burning their veils and sometimes filming themselves walking alone in the streets without veils…
The regime’s relentless repression
Obviously, the regime’s reaction was tantamount to an affront: dozens of arrests, violent charges with hundreds injured, dozens dead and the partial shutdown of the internet and social networks, through which channel the videos of the events are disseminated, this channel through which , has been around for a long time served as a safety valve for a people crushed by the religious dogma of a police regime.
Can this revolt under the veil, making the world witness, transform Iran? This question cannot be answered at this time. We remember that in 2009, supporters of the reformer Mir Hossein Moussavi contested the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad by the millions. The “Green Path of Hope” was then violently suppressed.
Also read:
MAINTENANCE. Caroline Fourest: “The political veil is the flag of patriarchy”
Demonstrations of women shedding their veils in Yazd ESN – –
This time, however, the movement is on an unprecedented scale. The footballers of the “Melli”, the Iranian selection, wore a black parka without any crest on Tuesday and hid the jersey of the national team at the presentation of the teams against Senegal, but without giving any explanation about this gesture.
When the police said they wanted to use “all their strength” against the protesters when the Revolutionary Guards in Iraqi Kurdistan, where Mahsa Amini was from, bombed opponents, Iranian President Ebrahim Raïsi was jolted out of his quiet Wednesday. Masha Amini’s death “sads” everyone in Iran, he said before issuing a warning, but cautioned that “chaos” would not be tolerated. The repression therefore continues.
The regime has threatened to attack its celebrities, journalists, athletes, singers, actors, filmmakers who supported the demonstrations. These events come as attacks on secularism mount in France and the thorny issue of the veil unleashes passions. On Saturday October 1, Education Minister Pap Ndiaye confirmed an increase in these attacks on secularism in schools since the start of the school year and promised to release the numbers in early October. The Minister of Education says he is “alert” about this phenomenon.
Also read:
Mémona Hintermann: “What happens in Iran is a mirror for France”
Since the protests began, Iranian authorities have accused forces abroad, including the United States, their sworn enemy, of being behind or instigating the rallies. While Germany was calling for European sanctions on Iran, French chargé d’affaires Florent Aydalot, who Tehran says was summoned over Paris’ “interference” in its internal affairs after condemning France’s “violent repression,” was summoned. of the demonstrations…
Because the courage of the Iranian women – like that of the women of Saudi Arabia before them – is triggering reactions worldwide and is frightening the regime now more than ever. “Nothing is more powerful than an idea whose time has come,” said Victor Hugo. Today is the fragile but determined time of women, life and freedom in Iran.