Why Iran protests are about more than just headscarves

Abstract

A FEW WISPS OF HAIRT
The morality police arrested Mahsa Amini, who also went by the name Jina, on September 13 for a violation of Iran’s strict hijab laws. Some hair was visible under her headscarf. Three days later she died in hospital, allegedly from being beaten in custody.
Amini’s death sparked the largest antigovernment protests in more than a decade that have spread to almost 80 cities, leaving more than 40 dead. Security forces are firing live ammunition at protesters, activists and journalists are being arrested, and the internet has been severely curtailed while the state media blames demonstrators for the violence.

But the protesters are undeterred. Many women have removed and burnt their headscarves in public. In the capital city of Tehran, where the government has cut power supply, protests have continued in smaller pockets across wealthy and workingclass neighbourhoods. In Qum, which is the seat of power for Shia leaders, protesters raised slogans calling for the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Text: Anjishnu Das & Kenneth Mohanty[. [Read More]