By Jaime Leon, La Prensa Latina Bilingual Media, October 5, 2022
(https://www.laprensalatina.com/iranian-schoolgirls-take-off-hijab-in-anti-regime-protests/)
Tehran, Oct 5 (EFE).- From widespread rallies stifled by violence, to high school and university students removing their headscarves in defiance of the Iranian regime, violent unrest has persisted throughout the Islamic republic over the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody.
Women walking in public without wearing mandatory hijab, people honking their horns on the streets and others shouting anti-government slogans from their balconies at night are among the bold displays of defiance shown in the country.
Amini died on September 16 after being arrested by Iran’s morality police for allegedly violating the country’s strict dress rules. Since then, thousands of young Iranians have taken to the streets to protest against the mandatory hijab law, and demand more freedoms.
HIJAB-LESS GIRLS
Over the past two days, protests have spread to universities and high schools.
In the city of Sanandaj, people chanted “Women, life, freedom” while waving their headscarves defiantly, according to a video published by activists.
Another video showed young students in the city of Karaj in the Alborz province removing their hijabs and throwing them at a teacher.
In cities like Tehran, young protesters have marched through the streets, while car horns honked in support, videos showed.
Current protests are calmer than those that gripped the country days ago.
“This, (…) shows how uncontrollable the #IranProtests are becoming. Unless they want to start beating & arresting school kids, there is no going back from this,” Sina Toossi, an analyst at the Center for International Policy in Washington, wrote on Twitter.
seen on Instagram
So far, Iranian security forces have cracked down on protesters, with violent dispersals and arrests of demonstrators, activists, journalists and public figures supporting the protests, while blaming the unrest on a “conspiracy” involving the United States and Israel.
At least 41 people have died amid the protests, according to Iranian state television. However, Oslo-based Human Rights in Iran NGO placed the number of those killed at 92.
EVOLUTION
Facing repression, the protests have been evolving in an unpredictable way.
Rallies took place across Iran during the first days of the demonstrations, which led to heavy clashes with security forces using batons, tear gas and, according to the United Nations, live ammunition.
Once those clashes quelled, protests erupted at universities, most of which switched back to face-to-face classes on Saturday after they were suspended a week ago during the unrest.
Tehran’s prominent Sharif University of Technology suspended in-person learning and moved to online classes on Monday, following clashes with security forces that arrested some 36 students.
“Gunshots have been heard around the campus. The situation is not safe,” the newspaper of Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology said on Sunday.
In response, the authorities have deployed riot police around universities.
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Vancouver Joins “Massive” Global Rally
for Women’s Freedom in Iran
By Amir Ali, Daily Hive, October 7 2022
(https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/vancouver-iran-global-rally)
Another rally is planned for Vancouver this weekend in response to ongoing protests in Iran for women’s freedom.
Vancouver joins a global response to the situation in Iran, with “massive rallies” also planned in London, Paris, Rome, Istanbul, Berlin, Los Angeles, and New York.
The rally for Iran takes place on October 8 at 3 pm at the Vancouver Art Gallery this Saturday and is being organized by the Metro Vancouver Iranian-Canadian community.
According to a statement from The Iranian Women’s Freedom Rally, Saturday’s demonstration is in solidarity and support of the women and men who are “standing bravely in opposition of the repressive laws and the brutality that is being used against them by the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
“In recent days, the movement has spread to many cities in Iran and is considered the largest uprising in recent times. Across the country, women and men of all ages, university students and academics alike, labour groups, and even young school children have joined together to protest the death of Mahsa Amini and the unfair laws and practices against women.”
Organizers invite BC advocacy groups to join the rally, including multicultural communities, policymakers, and elected officials, “to stand arm-in-arm in decrying the unfair treatment of women in Iran.”
They’re also hoping supporters will help formally denounce Iran’s current regime.
“It is imperative that we send a clear message that Canada is aware of the plight of Iranian Women and that Canadians support their brave efforts.”
