Protests in Iran

protest in Iran

protest in Iran

After Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman, passed away on September 16, while being held by the country’s morality police, protests have erupted in dozens of Iranian cities.
Amini was captured for allegedly disregarding Iran’s strict Islamic clothing regulation requiring women to wear headscarves, or hijabs. According to eyewitnesses, Amini was severely beaten by Guidance Patrol officers, a statement denied by Iranian authorities.
Protesters all over Iran burned headscarves and clashed with police, who used tear gas, water cannons and firearms loaded with metal pellets to quell the unrest. Students faced off against police as well, voicing resentment regarding limitations on freedoms.
Mrs. Weaver, a teacher from Hidden Valley High School, speaks on whether these protestors will or will not be able to get their voices heard.
“I want to believe that they will have their voices heard, however I do feel that the authoritarian-style government in which most Iranians live, does not allow clear freedoms of speech. Unfortunately, any type of protestor or speech that goes against governments like that is often met with resistance and hostility.”
Women’s rights are severely restricted in Iran., which is the reasoning on why the protests have spread. These protestors want to make a change in women’s rights because of Amini’s death.
Mrs. Weaver explains what she believes on the protesters attempting to making a change in Iran.
“I feel it might be a long, hard fought challenge for Iranian women to achieve substantial cultural change in this area, but it is certainly worth the difficult journey.”
In the story behind Amini’s death, the police denied the allegations for beating her and insisted that she had died after suffering a heart attack. Mrs. Weaver postulates on if she believes Amini was beaten or not.
“I feel that there should be an independent investigation by an outside organization to ensure that the truth is told, whatever that may be, and that if anyone is responsible for her death, that they are held accountable for that.”