Since the tragic death of Mahsi Amini in September of 2022, which sparked the "Woman, Life, Freedom" uprising, Iranian women have refused to back down from the oppressive Hijab Law. In January of this year, Roya Heshmati defied the law by posting a picture of herself walking down the streets of Tehran "hijabless." Her protest was met with drastic consequences as she detailed in a special report how she was lashed 74 times for her rebellious activity.
In July of 2024, Arezoo Badri was confronted with a hijab violation and as she fled the scene in her car, security forces shot her. Since that violent encounter, Arezoo remains paralyzed from the waist down in a hospital in Tehran.
Just recently, a science and research student at Azad University in Tehran was arrested and placed in a mental ward, after stripping down to her underwear and bra, following a violent confrontation with security forces over not wearing her hijab. Previous to her arrest, security forces had attacked her, ripping her clothing. Angry and disgusted, Ahoo removed the rest of her torn clothing and proceeded to walk across the campus in protest.
Branded, mentally ill, Ahoo was detained in a mental war and finally released two weeks later back to her family.
Iranian women refuse to be silent and back down! As a result of their defiance, The Iranian Parliament has adopted a new law that can impose the death penalty on women who dare to resist and go out publicly without wearing that "piece of cloth" over their heads.
"This shameful law intensifies the persecution of women and girls for daring to stand up for their rights, following the "woman, life, freedom" uprising, says Diana Eltahawy, Amnesty International's International Deputy Regional Director.
The New Law contains 74 articles imposing flogging, exorbitant fines, harsh prison sentences, travel bans, and restrictions on education and employment for women and girls who defy compulsory veiling laws. It will also penalize private entities that fail to enforce the hijab law.
Article 286 of the Islamic penal code states that conduct amounting to "corruption on earth" can be punishable by death. The death penalty will be imposed on women and girls sending videos of themselves unveiled to media outside Iran and also engaging in peaceful activism.
Article 49 warns violators that "nudity" by women and girls in public or online will lead to immediate detention, prosecution, and up to ten years in prison. Repeat offenders will be fined and imprisoned for up to 15 years.
The complex web of fines also prohibits importing and selling clothes, statues, dolls, mannequins, paintings, books, and magazines that promote nudity, indecency, unveiling, and bad dressing.
The New Law basically prohibits the existence of women! If you are born female and you live in Iran, then you will be under constant oppression and scrutiny from the cradle to the grave. The punishments and threats to women have gone "off the charts!" The evil regime's thirst for power and control over their bodies and minds has gone to a whole new extreme!
The International communities across Europe must stand up and condemn this new outrageous law. The feminists of the world must awaken from their apathy and silence and start being the voices of Iranian women.
However, if I know anything about the women of Iran, these Persian ladies are unafraid, unashamed of their beliefs, courageous, tough, and unwilling to comply with any new laws. They will continue their activism and protest, regardless of the support of international communities or "so-called" feminists. They don't need them. They have proven time and time again to be courageous survivors on the front lines of battle.
For more than four decades these brave Persian women have stood up to this regime, fighting against gender apartheid, discrimination, and inequality, demanding their human rights for free speech and expression. They will not bow down to any new law that would sentence them to death for refusing to wear a silly piece of cloth over their head.
The Protest will continue!
