Masha Amini
Masha Amini was pronounced dead on the 16th September, three days after being arrested by Iran’s morality police for wearing her hijab in an “improper” way. Her family say she was beaten by police.
Her death has sparked protests across Iran, including many women publicly cutting their hair. I was really inspired by videos of men challenging the men who kick and hit women in the street to punish them for not fully covering themselves.
Women, and men, of every faith and background must have choice in how they dress. The violence in how this policy is enforced on a day to day basis, as well as the violence of Masha’s death and the state suppression of the protests, including cutting off the internet to stop images being shared, makes it clear that this policy of the Iranian authorities is about controlling women, not supporting their choices or decisions.
It is important to be clear that this misogyny and violence is not limited to Iran. In Wiltshire, I was punished at school for wearing a skirt that was more than two inches above my knee. In east London, I have been grabbed and harassed for showing my knees, under tights, when in the vicinity of a religious building. Misogyny, the hatred leading to desire to control women, is something we all live with. We are lucky it does not routinely kill us.
The women of Iran are being extraordinarily brave and deserve and need all of our support. Please read about what is happening so news outlets know you care and might invest more in their reporting, write to your MP, find people on social media on the ground and amplify them.
